Mowbray benefitted from a time when Venkys did seem to have some interest in promotion. He had funding to buy players capable of getting us up and he made some very good choices, but he seemed in no hurry to make promotion happen. His on-field tactics----"false nine" crap, players out of position etc and poor selection choices (eg Raya) cost us what should have been an easy road to Top 6 at least. Instead he was here for years and never made it. I'll never forgive him.

Its not "investment", its paying the unavoidable bills. If they had invested £300M we would have something to show for it. Example---£7M was invested in Diaz and they lost all of it.

Season 1963-4, up to (and including Christmas Day!) was the best time to be a Rovers supporter I ever had! We scored for fun. Then, as usual the admin sold the best striker in the English game at the time and the season dribbled away. We really have had more than our share of needless suffering.

Like those early European cathedrals that took hundreds of years to complete. By the time they were finished everyone who started out on the "Journey" were long dead. The difference between that example and Venkys?----the cathedrals were eventually finished.

I know that giving away 4 of our very best players for nothing when they would command £10m in transfer fees is just bonkers. They apparently don't.

It ought to be though.

Some of us worry it won't be in our lifetimes though! 😱

Have you tried to get in touch with Matt Smith, Glen? He would be a great asset publicity -wise and I think he'd be up for it.

He's explicitly stating he wants to stay. Since he's arguably our best player the Club should be saying "thank God for that--sign here." But no reaction at all. I'm convinced we are going to lose our best players to "rebuild". Since they're out of contract and we won't even get the money to keep the lights on, what the hell is the point of that? It can only be to cut the wages bill---because there's no money from Pune. This is suicide. Way past time to bring this farce to an end.

Worst record (jointly with Luton) for points gained after conceding the first goal.

It won't happen.

The point is that once again we are bemoaning our failure to capitalise on a strong position and get in the play-offs for the first time since we were relegated more than a decade ago. How many times is this? I've no confidence that will ever change with the current owners. A win is a win but doesn't change that fundamental situation.

1-0 to Luton, half an hour gone. Must say Derby look absolute rubbish, definitely had fresh manger bounce which seems to be wearing off.

Good article. Wonder what the loonies who inhabit their comments pages will make of it?!!

In a way. There are always supporters but the numbers vary widely from time to time, as you know better than most since you've chronicled it in your book! It will get to the point when the low numbers will a) become dispiritingly low and b) affect the ability of the club to carry on. If that hasn't been reached already that is. Similarly there will always be a Blackburn Rovers I believe, but at what level? Chances are, unless things change drastically, your travel bill will be massively reduced.

"get behind the lads FFS" means ignore whats going on off the pitch. However the performance of those employees who aren't actually playing directly affects what happens on the pitch, otherwise what's the point of them? That includes the owners.

A lot of names being thrown around at he moment in a vain attempt to convince us we have something to look forward to.

Yep, give Premier League clubs the chance to see if he's worth taking off us for next to nothing. Sorry to be cynical but that's how I feel abut the club right now.

Yeah that's the point isn't it? Ok let him go if that's the decision but not for nothing. Ridiculous when we are under-funded and cost-cutting everywhere.

I expect we will lose all of Travis, Dolan and Brittain---all instrumental in our good moments this season. The reason---to get them off the wage bill. Nothing to do with what League we'll be in. Good servants to the Club cuts no ice with Venkys. No sense of loyalty whatsoever. Their replacements---I shudder to think.

As ever evrything in the garden is lovely. We will start next season without key players like Dolan and Travis. There can only be one reason to allow their contracts to run down----admin wants them out to get the wage bill down because there will be little money from Pune. The replacements will be cheaper. I'm happy when we win but behind it all is the hand of Venkys which will make future wins so much more unlikely.

He does a lovely dink!

Absolutely agree. The Luton player going down like he'd been shot didn't help. He was more worthy of a yellow than Montgomery (or an oscar!)

We have great fans. Deserve so much more than Venkys. Good to see so many youngsters there.

Well we clearly have 2 keepers we can't rely on so that's an imperative for next season. But Gestade didn't mention it as a priority so I guess we won't go that way! That's a few points lost already.