Seems to me it was the perfect storm. The Trust were getting desperate after nearly allowing themselves to be conned the first time round. Then he digs up a firm and family that checks out financially on the face of it. From the Indian side he presents them a club whose saleable assets on the books match the asking price and whose wage bill is all but covered by Prem income. The nitty gritty will be far more interesting but he certainly did a snake oil job on both sides so iv'e no doubt they were happy to tip up their million quid each.

The fact he manages to stay in office drawing millions per year says to me he knows too much.

There was absolutely crystal clear conflict of interest going on at Ewood but the snake seemed to have it stitched up legally. I'm sure a real investigation would have thrown up enough evidence to undermine that but they didn't want to know. Who knows who he had in his pockets and also once you do that with one club then several others come forward demanding the same. That shouldn't be a problem it's what the authorities are there for. Sadly they just set a few guidelines that allow a multitude of grey areas in between. That it seems then allows those running the game to remain absolved of any real responsibility.

The release clause is probably the be all and end all in some of these types of situations. Ludicrous to expect a player to sign without insuring himself against his present club holding him hostage asking unreasonable money. Just like saying give a manager a 10 year contract after promotion from lge 1 with a Championship budget but that's the world we live in.

A finders fee went into his pockets from both sides..... The gist of it Rovers were looking for a buyer, that lot were looking for a football club.

He would be now as well, poor player but good target man. Likes of him will always plunder their fair share of goals at their level. I'm going to say Stokes has to be one of if not THE worst signing although he didn't cost big money. He cost in wages, signing on fee and pay off and i'm 99.9% convinced that was a put up job. Him coming here to get his much wanted move to HIbs, who's actually to blame i wouldn't be sure. Rovers may just be the dumb side show as usual but if ever a move warranted an internal investigation it was that one, that b#st#rd had no intention of doing anything here. Complete set up job he's a dodgy as they come.

Just shows what they can achieve when they invest wisely. About early 00's me and the gf at the time met him at an auction in Cheshire of all places, both of us had on some kind Rovers related gear. He clocked us and smiled and nodded then stopped for a chat when our paths crossed. Couldn't meet a nicer guy genuinely still interested in Rovers knew what was going on. I felt a bit guilty for some of the comments i'd no doubt said previously. End of the day though he was just out of his depth at top level, by some way. Never could it be said he didn't graft though or shirk a challenge, fair play to him for spending his money wisely.

That's the guy couldn't quite remember his name but i don't think he tore up many trees when he got his move.

Never understood the hatred of Quinn from what seemed to be the moment he turned up. Perez was class you could see that a mile away, not sure Hodgson had any idea what he was doing with him. Also heard he didn't fit in with the clique in the dressing room at the time, a bit like Davies. If Sherwood didn't like you you'd no chance.

Just the way he operates, everybody starts as back up to those already here and his favs. Doesn't matter how good you might be in your position you'll get on where you are asked. It's just assuming that a good player can slot in anywhere and the pecking order rules over ability, flawed logic.

After losing about 5 mill per season we then lost ten times that in less than 3 the min the Raos, Anderson, Kean, Crescendo at the other twohats came through the door. Stinks beyond the realms of normal cock ups that does, stinks all the way from here to Brunei via Switzerland, Barnet, Pune and Weybridge.

I think Mowbray did say the football budget for the lge 1 season was about 8 million. The rest was probably still paying off outstanding monies owed to god knows how many other people. Who knows who's actually on the payroll of BRFC.

There really is no need to be evaluating anything if he doesn't know what he needs by now he should pack it in. More a case of seeing who's going, waiting to see if he can get the loanees back in and seeing what serious bids appear. All standard stuff that will leave us floundering for scraps again at the last min if we aren't careful.

Was that the overdraft on take over ? Transferred off the clubs books and onto VLL ? I seem to remember the 19 million figure being 16 million overdraft and 3 million for an outstanding loan owed to the trust. Hadn't they then ran up another 1o million overdraft in quick style ?

Vs must have SBOI in their pockets and vice versa, they clearly have a very good working relationship and line of credit. The reason they switched was Barclays were about to take hold of the clubs affairs because of an outstanding 10 million they were demanding. Soon after Chris Samaba disappeared to Russia in an out of window transfer for around that amount.......

There was an article in an Indian business site on the takeover back in the day talking about Venkys and VH group. It had another banks name down as providing the buying price funds. I reckon the finance thing back in India could be very very complex indeed but these things never come tumbling out unless the proverbial hits the fan.

If we cast our minds back Kean didn't want Rhodes him and his little crew were trying to get another SEM guy through the door. Forget his name now but he certainly wasn't a patch on Rhodes. Good old Shebby got that over the line with the help of Preston Derek who was well in with Hudds chairman.

Then spent years trying to prise nephew Jordan away from Ewood to wherever he was at. To be fair i think without the bad luck he'd have turned out to be a decent signing.

Of course you are in terms of age if nothing else he's a young pacy forward, anything can happen in the next 4 years. There's zero chance of him signing a contract with no release clause unless you are going to set him up for life financially. You should know by now nothing is guaranteed in football he's a decent championship forward in a mid table team at the moment. That's the be all and end all at the moment. I'd love to keep him but at the same time don't want to over commit.

Chances are he wouldn't sign it and also he's on 15 grand per week now, so what's he going to want to commit for 4 years without a release clause and the chance of bigger bucks ? Think about it for a min, it's never that straightforwards you're asking him to commit his best years there.

The great football finance reset could finally be about to get underway and not before time. Those at the top end will be unscathed though i bet, in fact they'll be allowed to keep throwing obscene money around that increases every year. An 8 team Super League will be on the cards again before long.

Could well be undisclosed initial fee and a deal rumored to up to 10 million if it's him. Nobody is committing that much without covering themselves. Remember similar with Scott Dann coming here, 7 million figure put out to pacify Brum fans. Facts were about 1.5 mill up front and an enormous set of add on's because he wasn't fit when we signed him but they needed rid.

I'd prefer Norman at LB

It really is enough to make you cry - again ! Go now to a steady midtable Prem club and say we are investing 200 million over the next ten years and you'd be staggered if that didn't mean a few Euro jaunts. Say now to a similar midtable Championship club we are here to invest 10 million per year over the next 5 years and you'd expect at least one genuine promotion tilt. Not here it's just going down a black hole propping things up and providing a safe haven for some of footballs regular under achievers. What an absolute waste.

As much as i take issue with them i'm not one who just expects 20 million to be chucked in every 6 months we have to be realistic. They run the club the way they do so yes keep making cock ups then keep paying for the mistakes but this is a bit different. It's a nightmare because post audit they seemed to have got it to a more comfortable level, like iv'e said before i think they are happy writing off 8-10 mill per season through the books for whatever reason. My main issue is how it's used and what happens to it between India and here. I also think the intention was or is to grow and invest in another team to start selling. Done properly though it could become a trading club again selling 1 for decent money every now and then as opposed to a selling club. Cashing in an asset every time there's bills outstanding and fire selling when the chips are really down. Sadly this situation might force the issue into the latter and not a lot anyone can do, unless they are chucking similar levels in as to the post Kean black hole. That would be difficult for even the harshest critic to complain about.