It is all pretty depressing and embarrassing, isn't it? I thought the club had reached the absolute nadir of lack of class and professionalism with the non-transfers back along. Then it got worse with the handling of the Eustace departure, followed now by our own manager touting out our first team players for sale in post-match interviews alongside, wholly unsurprising, suggestions of the occasional contract offer to a player being based on not even an inflationary pay-rise. We all really need to stop blaming Eustace, out of contract players, Hyam being apparently easy to upgrade on, referees, etc. Smell the coffee - there are no upgrades going on here, on Dolan, Hyam, Travis, anyone. There is no agenda against our club except in our own boardroom and in Pune. Just an accelerating stripping down of our playing squad towards wholly consisting of unprepared academy players and cheap cast-offs from the dwindling pool of "smaller" clubs. This ends in relegation, nothing else. This situation is getting worse and worse and I honestly don't see an end to it. But, for me, my pride in supporting this club is fading away. I just can't align myself with, nor fund in any way, this total shambles of an ownership and their utter lack of competence, respect and class. I'm trying to hold on to what remains of my love for Blackburn Rovers. But I'm struggling to see it, anymore. Venkys have taken it away for me and for my son.

One shot on target in 100 minutes. Kargbo only got a limited time, in which he caused panic, Miller should be straight in and get Hedges out. Reasons to feel optimistic: few and far between beyond getting the above into the line up, immediately.

Well, I hope Dolan does brilliantly over there and looks back fondly on his time at Rovers as being fundamental in his development. He probably needed to move on to push his career on as his development had probably stalled/was stalling. Was he ever a top class player for us? No, certainly not for any extended period. But have we been a top team packed with quality to bring out the very best in each player, over that same period? Of course not. Despite some of the things he did on the pitch that frustrated the hell out of me, he has consistently been, for several years, a grafter and someone who seemed to give his all for this club, including keeping himself fit, injury free, and willing to try things (whatever the outcome). I'd thank him for that if I saw him at Ewood some day in the future. My eight-year-old son is really upset by his departure as Tyrhys was his hero. Partly because of the energy he showed on the pitch whenever we went to watch Rovers, but also because he was so patient and kind with young Rovers fans, like my boy, when he met them. So I'll choose to remember the good parts, of which there were many more with Dolan than with the majority of those who have "represented" the blue and white halves over the last decade or so. I'm encouraging my son to do the same. And to wish Dolan well with his move, which he has earned with his efforts and his perseverance.

How absolutely awful. A huge tragedy for his family. Monumentally less important, but he was also a superb footballer. Whoever you are, whatever you achieve, it's all so fragile, isn't it? Very sad.

Loosest ever application of the word "prime", there!

Great bit of hyperbole, there!

I've mocked previous WATR statements but this one is pretty much spot on.

A club going into a transfer window with identified key targets and seemingly ready to make signings happen. What is this madness?

I would be delighted to upgrade from chickens to turki. It won't happen.

I agree. The WATR statements do come across as "meek" and somewhat like a jilted lover telling their friends about how their cruel and bullying ex doesn't talk to them anymore, whilst pleading with the same ex for better communication and respect in their 'relationship', rather than just calling out the ex for the insufferable shit they are. It feels a bit sad to read and definitely doesn't seem to carry any impact, whatsoever. But I might be missing it so I'm genuinely happy to hear what people think the statements are achieving.

It makes very little sense, at all. It feels to me like it can only be decisions taken out of spite, now. Certainly not the actions of anyone who cares at all about success, reputation, community etc

So, what was the outcome of the hearing??

Good. The headline on a couple of sites about this being about the owners refusing to fund is refreshing and encouraging. These are billionaires, with nothing stopping them from covering relatively small costs. If they can't or won't do that, they have no chance at all of keeping this business going eventually. I'm glad they are being shamed in this way and suspect it is our best chance of being rid of them. Obviously awful for all those caught in the crossfire though and make no mistake - this is all on the Raos.

I just made the mistake of reading some of the comments on the Facebook post. Is it just me, failing to see that this is an inevitable and sound business decision with only positive implications for the men's team? Im really sorry that I'm not quite getting it.

I can only conclude this was always a calculated misdirection based on the literal meaning. Of course they don't refuse to sign a cheque, because they realistically would never be asked to.