Good old Spurs i'm surprised they didn't sign him back for huge money years later then ruin him !

1 to 1.5k is the standard following to there so around that although would've been more at 3pm probably.

The kind of budgets they are providing could take the club places if a lot of it wasn't annually just covering the ridiculous losses they are responsible for creating although from an accounting point of view some of that seems to suit them imo although that's another debate altogether. If budgets of 25 million per season kept being signed off yet running costs had been reigned in as they have been that should leave plenty room to maneuver in terms of squad building with a bit of quality. Obviously though the thumbscrews need keeping on over generous contracts and snouts in troughs which infest football at every turn but that comes down now to what they've learned if anything and how much day to day attention they pay to it. Keep the rats and snakes away and things can remain steady for now.

Not from there but didn't Souness cut his teeth as a player at Boro ?

Obsession with strikers on the wings but failure to recruit another big man is a point loser for me also, no doubt had Samuel been fit he'd have starting wide again most weeks although the option to move him into DG's position in games would've been there. Carries as much goal threat as a road cone though !

His off field and club, player management has to be right up there well above average he's sorted the first team side of things from top to bottom and got the ownership & co being a buyers again instead of sellers as well as insisting on a proper guy above him to run things away from the field. 8 or 9 out of 10 there no doubt I don't know what more he could've done on that side of things. On field all things considered so for it's above average but not by a massive way there's work to do and for someone so experienced he still makes some right selection and tactical howlers although we are a little quick to forget other teams go out to stop us as well. Plus point is there's still plenty potential if he gets backing I don't think he's reached his glass ceiling and we know he can come up with the goods when he's in a bold mood. 7 out of 10 so far..

In step the TV companies again and spoil it .

My first ever Rovers game, hard to believe now but Forest back then were a bit like City visiting now or someone, apart from the money angle of course but they were a high profile team then.

Was manager when I first got into it can't remember much other than he came across as very straightforward and honest. Had the basis of a solid side but had absolutely no means to bolt anything onto it so looking back he did an amazing job but In true Rovers style probably never got the credit for it whilst here. Read some stories about his time retrieving balls from the river in training, counting out the tea bags etc, it's a world away from that now I bet you don't even get that at a lot on non league clubs these days. Makes it even more criminal the amount of money that gets poured straight through football.

Remember as a kid listening on the radio to the goal flashes and that bloody whistle as we won unexpectedly 5-1 up there mid 80's ish think Brotherston was the main man that day. Couldn't believe Rovers had scored 5 away from home I was on cloud nine, think the Telegraph said 'Rovers go nap' or something, never understood that phrase !

Might be wrong but think it was 2-1 to them and that shitehouse was out the door not long after, another reason to thank Tony ?

Think plenty would swim naked in the river Darwen at a top 8 finish this season but can't see it the team needs some investment for some quality, pace and another goal scorer before we break inti the top 8 in order to start knocking on the door of the top 6. Hope the family realise this, needn't cost the earth but maybe something like seven million divided over a couple of good signings ready for the team...... On the subject of visits I think Balaji and son would've actually earned a bit of respect if they had turned up to support their team every week good or bad, that's how it's gained not just turning up to meet the Queen then not even staying for a home game a couple of days later !!!!!!

They ran all over us that night I remember being impressed with their football and I think Mowbray was boss there then although even on his worst day I think he'd find it easy to tactically outsmart Kean !

Been up there many times and can confirm that along with Oldham it's probably the only other place on earth colder, wetter and greyer than Blackburn ! Very similar type club and town to our lot good honest hardworking down to earth in general, love their football and club but fall out with it very easily at times. Double our catchment area which is why their crowds and away followings can fluctuate wildly according to what's going on on the pitch etc but in the main a good solid hardcore of loyal support who'll get behind them if the team is up for it. Difficult game this but more food for thought in terms of what we have in Mowbray as along with West Brom it's another club who thinks highly of our present gaffer and will no doubt give him a nice welcome. I hope TM has his non complicated square pegs for square holes thinking cap on tomorrow though or I fear another thrashing but am favouring a credible draw. Boro 2 Rovers 2 Oh for the days we always seemed to go up the North East and nick odd goal wins........

I think it needs reminding that Venkys cover the losses there seems an impression that they pay every bill every month and we are totally beholden to them just to be in existence. Not quite true the club does actually generate an income and a lot of the losses they fund were created soley by them and/or their partners so it's more that they are covering their mess rather than just ever so generous benefactors providing the town of Blackburn with a club. which judging by some of the comments on other social media is how some see it. However they do enable it to function at this level at least with their input otherwise we'd be in league 1 on our own income probably but they aren't alone in that it's what many club owners do, Hemmings up the road being one. Just gets on my tits after all that's gone on that people try and make out Rovers wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Venkys when they would albeit in a lesser form aside from a takeover. On that subject we'll never know because there has been interest and they won't entertain it so it's far fetched to make out we owe our entire present day existence to them.

Barclays wanted their 10 million at that time so probably the Samba money went through different channels to avoid it whilst they transferred the banking to India, wouldn't be surprised, stuff has happened like that in football far too often. God knows how many pockets that might have found it's way into. Scott Dann was another who didn't cost anywhere near what was put about to pacify the Brum fans he was coming back from injury when we bought him. Probably got back what they shelled out for him the rest was going to be made up in instalments that would only have come to fruition had he stayed years, made x no. of appearances and played for England or something daft like that. Plan all along there was get him in get him fit and playing then flog him on, no doubt about it we were an agents vehicle for a time whether by design or fault.

A fortune had been bled out that's for sure but hopefully that's down to a mere trickle now or stopped altogether. Funny things these accounting tools. In other news I wonder why Kean really ended up in Brunei.........

Hopefully Barry jnr has been studying football business and forensic accounting at whichever British Uni he's been at.

Doubt he's short of a few bob after his stint here ?

Lucky to have a career at the level he's had for sure if ever there was an honest lower league ability grafter it's Lowe. Very lucky to just be coming up at the time dastardly and clueless mutley were swinging their plans into action !

They came and went at times in the height of all the nonsense and barely got any stick only when they turned up in Andersons pre arranged pantomime did it really tip people over the edge ! I'm sure they've been since then and only got stick when the upped and left on 60 mins ? Couldn't care less now as long as they do it respectfully or low key after all they have us by the goolies and they go hand in had with their money so like it or not they are entitled, I don't say that easily but it's a fact. To be honest it's middlemen i'd rather not hear of, see or smell anywhere near Ewood ever again at the min over these lot.

Let's be nice to him if he has any clout he might give the ok to get in another good striker and fast wide man in the window and not sell Dack, as long as good guy Tony doesn't say no we don't need it !!!! No wonder he was so confident we'd win on Saturday if he was telling the lads one of their generous paymasters was in town so they'd better show up. Outside possibility that having someone like that around a bit more often would stop the inevitable slide into comfort zone new contracts and mid table mediocrity tend to lead to. As long as he just turns up to watch and leaves everything to everyone else that is.

Could this be why TM and co didn't need to go to India this time ? I think a few of us felt for some time this lad might have a big say in the Rovers 'toy' after all his father did say years ago he'd be on the board when he was old enough. Maybe he wasn't but now is and maybe the new way of doing stuff is down to him ? If so leave the bugger alone and let him get on with it although did have some dialogue with him on twitter a few years ago and he seemed as completely deluded as the rest in terms of they'd done nothing wrong ! If he's keen and really interested then that might help I just hope he has a fortune behind him already and wouldn't be after making his own wages out of it. Also I hope he doesn't have a friendly adopted English uncle called Jerome !!!

Is signing players like him at such a young age a way around FFP ? If the money is put in is it possibly exempt or something ?

Free coach travel for regulars would be a nice gesture it's not far away........