Devon Rover

Aye!

You clearly haven't been following the ABBEY and Chaddy storyline... 😉

There is an element in this article of some people seeming to be belatedly waking up to what many could already see. But it is still a confusing/confused read, seeming to flit between calling out the unfolding calamity of this transfer window, and maintaining that the first 11 is strong, which is patently not true in several areas. There seems to be an underlying attitude in the writing that survival in the Championship should be all that is being aimed for, and is possibly achievable. This just isn't good enough and look what that unambitious attitude (from our CEO) led us into last season. Ultimately, I find it really difficult to put much stock in an article that is poorly written to the extent of clearly miswording key aspects around the non-first team signings so far, etc. A step in the right direction from the local media but still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of clarity, accuracy and consistency of opinion and coverage.

Paul, I really do understand your view and I'm not criticising it as it is clearly based on fairness and empathy. Allow me to explain why my view is very different. It is based partly on my experience as an Exeter City supporter (alongside Rovers) back when I lived there. That club was owned by crooks, it simply happens, sometimes. The crooks in that case quickly ran the whole club into the ground. Staff began to be 'let go' by the crooks, including a friend of mine who ended up having to (successfully) take the club he loved to a tribunal after he uncovered some financial irregularities, reported them to one of the 'Chairmen' and was promptly sacked. The crooks increasingly failed to pay local suppliers, whilst flying celeb 'friends' to the club for day trips. They eventually invited the attentions of HMRC for non-payment of tax. Debt increased and club staff were made redundant. Although the club did not go into administration, it was bought from a position of unsustainability by a newly formed supporter's trust, a CVA was agreed with suppliers to cover part of their debts owed, and the club started again after relegation from the football league. This restart included some of the same employees who had left returning as volunteers and fan representatives, fan work parties formed to maintain the stadium, subs into the trust began funding a player's wages per year. All immediately establishing a new kind of bond between players, staff and fans. The club was united, not least for having come through 'the worst'. I would be delighted to see something similar, although hopefully not SUCH a monumental fall (National League), at Rovers as what Exeter City did to rebuild as a community club that has a hell of a lot more collective positivity and spirit about it than Blackburn Rovers does, as of 2024. This ownership of Rovers has broken this club. It is broken. It will only be fixed when something significant is made to happen. Staff who are here now will leave by their own volition, or gradually they will be forced to leave due to the ownership and finance position. These things are very likely and have happened at other clubs. Wishing to avoid some people losing their jobs through something monumental forcing a change in the club's ownership is unlikely to be anything more than delaying inevitable redundancies and the further slow death of everything that has been built up over many years as revenues continue to drop. It has happened elsewhere and it will happen here. Something needs to change, even if it brings some pain with it. Most important changes in life do.

Which suggests they expect to lose the case, or that it is just a convenient excuse?

Was going to click 'like' for the insight, but I'd rather there were a 'cry' option, please!

There are SO many names that serve as reminders of just how horrific this last 14 years have been for Rovers and supporters. I dream of the day Venkys sell up/give us away. The longer it takes, the more of a shell we will be left as.

I totally agree and feel your pain. I've done several drives from Somerset to Blackburn over recent seasons. Each time felt like I'm somewhere that is special to me in Ewood Park, each time spent money in the concourse and club shop. Each time noted the deteriorating stadium, lack of matchday experience, atmosphere, fight and hope in the stands and on the pitch, all whilst the club administration is repeatedly rinsed of quality and class and the team now no longer being funded beyond the minimum. I won't spend any more of my money, time or emotional energy on making that journey whilst this lot of charlatans own us and let us wither on the vine as an institution and club. I just can't contribute to this farce anymore. I'll sit and wait and hope they clear off. Until then, I'm not putting myself through it any more than watching on TV and attending some away games. They aren't stealing my money.

Don't worry about it. I think any credence of the down vote can be assessed based on who it came from. Eddie is clearly right on this, based on the nature of football, footballers, our owners and financial situation, and the evidence of recent similar examples. Conversely it is only ridiculously blue and white tinted glasses that would suggest anything other. I say we should give the lad some game time and enjoy watching him in the brief period of time before he inevitably leaves.

Very well said and that resonates for me. It makes me sad and angry to see the literal and metaphorical running down of everything that Jack Walker built up, and that defined many of the best moments, and dreams, of my childhood.

Perhaps. But an upgrade on Pickering is years overdue.

"The more ambitious club Oxford United". What a statement. Utterly depressing and totally correct. What we've been reduced to. How anyone can't see the direction we are going in needs to open their eyes. Transfers in needed urgently or this is a relegation season. We will pass the likes of Oxford United on our way down.

It is really galling to see the amounts being thrown Leeds' way for Archie Gray compared to what our executives and/or owners capitulated to accept for Wharton. We have, of course, been absolutely shafted. (Sorry, just seen already covered on the actual Adam Wharton thread, which I usually don't open as it is too painful.)

94/95 look will work for me. What won't is the inevitable cheap knock-off impression that Rovers have come to apply to just about everything during the Venkys era.

Always value in learning what not to do from a brief stint at a dysfunctional organisation. Makes me wish I could apply a similar approach to the team I support. Learnt from the experience, walked away a stronger person. If only it were that easy!

Jay Haddock. Is there anything administrative that this club can get right?!

This. Anything else is slow death.

All sounds correct. Where does this leave the club in terms of paying existing wages and bills through May, June, and July (at least)? It sounds like this itself is a huge challenge without a big sale, and any talk of transfers in is, essentially, moot...

Agreed, on all points.

Ah fuck

Back along this would have been quite intriguing and exciting. Right now, it feels like the best we can hope for is the lad comes in, plays a few good cameos and promptly gets sold to pay the electric bill for a few months. The soul has been well and truly ripped out of our club by Venkys.

Just got home, too, and similar feelings. A few positive things to cling to from today. But not many. Also, the state of our Ewood Park home. Totally neglected. It is a moss-coated shadow of what it should be, and what Jack built for us.

What I wouldn't give to be in the parallel universe where we had given Hirst time and a contract and sold Gallagher. Or, you know, just not sold the club to Venkys.

As an aside, I was genuinely surprised to see Gally was strong enough to hold up his baby for the lap of appreciation.

Its going to the final day. Driving up, I had this image I couldn't shake of watching next Saturday as Leicester are awarded the championship trophy, whilst Rovers relegation is confirmed. Hopefully paranoia, but it feels believable, right now! Huge 45 ahead...