Someone very wealthy and owning the club and seeing that and hearing about his alleged behaviour off the park would have done just that.

I don't think it falls into the realms of hanging the club out to dry so think about what ideas people and others clubs may be offering before jumping to faux offence on the clubs behalf. Some are actually saying they'd commit to paying up front iv'e even seen the idea of bonds mentioned so surely it's a sign of unswerving support and commitment that should be applauded ? Personally i can only think that maybe the small numbers for someone like us makes them think it isn't worth it. Say if you've 16k regulars and you know a third would commit to something up front it might be worth it to get a few quid in. Us out of about 9k would probably be lucky to get a thousand. So the cost of implementing it and then maybe having to carry it over into something else or refunds if things get bad again before it gets started makes no economic sense. As for stimulating well for a start regular updates from the guy on about 200 grand a year might be a start. Then of course that old chestnut the ownership and their silence. Surely a few words concerning continued backing to keep the lights on at least might help but instead we have the usual firesale/admin and the like speculation. Speculation that the club claims damages it but it does naff all to ever nip it in the bud. Why ? because those tasked with it don't really give a shit as long as they get paid yet are quick to turn it back on the fans when they come under understandable scrutiny. Silence isn't the way to run a club in the best of times never mind the worst but back on the main issue, if some want to commit at least give them the courtesy of listening and an explanation of why it might be declined. Don't simply just brush it under the carpet it's the polar opposite of hanging the club out to dry. Sorry to rant but you did ask....

It's the same for all clubs we aren't a unique case and others are finding various ways to stimulate their ST holders.

Duffy is almost in Orr territory for me i'd rather stick pins in my head than have him back here. Not that's it's remotely likely anyway.

Nice lad era that doesn't seem to happen anymore i remember watching both Steele & Raya closely after we've conceded in the BBE. Steele looked terrified of Hanley & Duffy who were often totally at fault. They in turn always looked non plussed with each other but didn't seem to communicate. Raya was always averting Mulgrews glare even when it was Charlie boys fault. Novice keepers though compared to Robinson who bawled people out regularly and put his name on some crosses etc.

I'd take Trumps word any day over Keans. Mind you if Donald had an agent it would be....

Nice one ? Could never remember how it all started off.

Some journo the other day saying about this and the fit & proper test, basically 'The EFL just set the rules but it's up to the ownerships & clubs to apply them' - they either choose to or not so can't complain when they eventually get pulled was the gist of it. Absolving them again of all blame and making it sound like just a basic set of guidelines with a loose threat off action if you breach them. It's like dangling a worm then reeling them in and taking their money when they've been daft enough to get hooked. Money making corruption.

You do suspect it's just protecting the big clubs yet again a Championship minus Sheff Weds & Derby loses a lot off its average crowd figures. Especially with Leeds going the other way and that would be a hell of a hit in one season.

That's the way i remember it always seemed good cop bad cop to get the phone lines buzzing. Some of them are real gobshites though.

We all do that's why he remains reasonably popular with fans. However we can also see a man's limitations and a good one accepts them too.

The midtable Messiah thinking outside the box as usual.

You really are his number one fanboy aren't you ?

Sell the stadiums and lease back loophole looks like it's about to be tightened up on.

Well if Dack is anything to go by ?

His copybook with some fans i mean as to confidently sit out so long it looks like he has something sorted elsewhere or an offer has been there a long time. Or maybe even a loyalty bonus or something due from Rovers when his deal ends that might have been null and void had he sought some kind of move. Who knows these contracts contain all sorts. Just find it hard to fathom an all action lad so keen as him when he's on the pitch would just wipe out a year of playing.

I listened to it daily when i was a white van man years ago that's what it's designed for really just background noise. Tolerable when you are diving in and out of a van all day but are sick of commercial radio playing same songs on same loop. Min i stopped doing that iv'e never listened since in over a decade and never will...... unless i buy another van maybe !

Ha ha there you go again, now it's half pay ? Not how it works and you know it they get paid the same it's between the parent club and loaning club to sort who makes up what percentage. I follow no players on anything i leave that to fanboys like thee. I wish him well but he's blotted his copybook but he probably couldn't get away with it at most other clubs. That's a different argument though.

Stock answer from you when you've dug another hole one day you'll hold your hands up and say yeah ok ? Play the ball not the man and where in gods name did anyone say send him somewhere else and we pay him. The whole point is getting him off the payroll or at least some of his wages for a while which is what tends to happen. Get inside out of the sun mucker.

I'd say i understand the notlob fans after all they've been through the ringer but a lot of them are like that all the time. Especially towards their smaller town but bigger profile illustrious counsins other side of Darwen ?

Point is it still doesn't sit well with people sitting out his contract doing naff all and being allowed to do so at a club were every penny counts. Yes he's perfectly within his rights to do so but to paying supporters stumping up their hard earned you can't be surprised it wrankles. Especially when the club needs every penny to put towards the team. Probably doesn't seem like a big deal at the end of a keyboard but it is it's taking the piss really.

We'll get part way through next season doing similar and going nowhere at which point i can see the manager saying maybe we need better players but we can't afford them !!! Can just see it now, when it's something everybody knows already. Get them playing a wait that suits them and their strengths not his so called ideals that are part fantasy.

By and large its been gash and needs binning off as plan B is always hoof it and plan A is often hoof it towards Gallagher on the wing. There's no revolutionary style coming from these lot its classic second level stuff. We've always looked better pressing in the faces or counter attacking but they don't seem brave enough for that very often. They want safety first tip tap that allows rotation, people out of position and youth in there all designed to get people mins and increase squad value. The manager and others on here ewould throw up stats it works over the season and we've finished a bit higher. No saying that another style wouldn't achieve similar though either and maybe just better. Everything here is geared to just play it safe though and hope for the best. Before we know it this team will be dismantled and we'll be throwing together odds and sods of another with another period of good chances missed.

If he's well connected there could have been the promise of something on the table all along there. Hench him not giving a toss about doing much this season. All about who ya know.....

How could it diminish it though if he's playing and playing well the lge 1 stuff would still be in his resume. He might then have a few decent clubs in for him instead of the desperado's. With that goes the chance of a better contract it's called putting yourself in the window and showing you want to play and have something to offer. It's an age old method in football and sitting out your contract doing nothing is an age old red flag about attitude. Sorry bud but by your theory very few would bother going out on loan it's not rocket science players should want to play. There must be something in it that contractually suits Smallwood and fair enough but it isn't a good look to potential suiters. Especially someone of his age who has a good few years left.