Which might well have meant here's ten million but if you can generate more you can use that to strengthen, one out = two in, that old chestnut to which he probably said i'd rather keep what I have and root around for a few potential bargains. Which is probably why we nearly always end up with injury prone types.

Maybe he didn't maybe he just asked for less than they thought he would and highlighted retaining the key players first and foremost so they were pleasantly surprised. Maybe this so called bigger budget was offered on the basis he was willing to sell a few then use the alleged re-investment. Either way it's quite a canny move by him A) Keep expectation levels low all around, B ) After speaking to others he'll have known damn well he was unlikely to get any promised money from sales anyway so he's playing it safe on either count. Time will tell if he was right but if the begging bowl comes out in Jan they should honour it.

The clubs losses should have reduced very significantly in the last few years with high earners mostly off the bill, staff reduced, pay offs paid off mostly so nearly all input should now find it's way into actually paying for what it is supposed to. Maybe they started with a clean slate and a different banking arrangement after all the sales then last years audit so money in more or less matches money out ? We'll see but i'd still love to go through the Rovers payroll with a fine tooth comb ! ?

No wonder i'm always wondering if the club funds other projects or wages as well ......

Which is why I've mentioned it half a dozen times whilst some seem content to cling to the daft notion we have 3-5 million to spend but just can't get the deals done. The budget probably increased in line with the projected income and most of that will have already been swallowed up with new contracts, scheduled pay rises and bonuses etc. There'll be very little room left so it's make do scrabbling around or maybe get one over the line that costs around a million, after that it's the usual cheap young loans, frees and hope they'll agree to underwrite the wages on a Prem loan or two at the last min.

You have no option on here.

Could be TM just playing it safe or something involving the usual suspects but i'll say it again in the absence of us actually paying some serious brass for a striker with a bit of pedigree which clearly won't happen I think Gallagher on loan if the numbers aren't stupid is a decent signing at this juncture. I think he'll do alright and will be a good fit with this squad, personally i'd loan of sell Samuel to help fund it but TM's obsession with him means he's probably pencilled in to start right wing most weeks.

So it's another squad man then .....

Glad it was a success well done to those who go out their way to keep the tradition going.

Turns up most transfer windows when there 'might' be some activity, spouts, doesn't back it up then disappears ? Mind you he's not alone and not the worst ... roll on the season then at least the 'starry eyed' regulars stick around and comment on the games !

That probably covers his living expenses when here, wonder where the real wage is !

Did anyone ever get to the bottom of who pays him ? club, owners, both, someone else, combination of all three ??? Or was he there just to generate commission ?

Evans tends to play well when the rest of the team around him is playing like tigers hence his form towards the end of last season, the little spell he had under Bowyer early doors and when he's surrounded by better players in the International team. Rest of the time odd game aside he's a complete passenger who hides we've seen enough of him now to cast judgement and then there's his glass like physical stuff. If the team have a good season he might well shine especially if he's after a new contract or to catch someones eye so hopefully he'll justify his top wages for once and we'll reap some benefits. They'd be bonkers to throw a new big money contract his way though we'll be saddled again unable to get shut because no one will ever pay big money for him.

If only they could loan them in ..... then again Paul Senior and one or two others probably were !

Panic signings are the worst kind of signings so let's hope there is no panic for bodies in a week or twos time.

Facts twisted to suit the agenda of having a go at fans yet again by zeberdee, very silly.

The surcharge has been around longer than that hasn't it ? Like from the beginning of last season..........

Williams in later days of austerity under the trust said in the short to medium term it's better to try and keep the good players you have and keep them happy with their contracts than keep trying to trade in terms of stability when there's no real money. Therefore this squad should be bouncing after promotion and pay rises so that should help plus Mowbray has said coming to Ewood isn't about just getting big wages anymore they have to be earned. It's going to be small steps i'm afraid and as I've bleated numerous times there really won't be much room in the budget after all that's already been committed. I'll take no sales and retaining good players as a positive and pray it is actually part of a 3 to 5 year genuine plan although we desperately need some more quality be it permanent or loan to ensure any decent work isn't all undone next season. Other side of the coin I don't know whether this plan if it exists is a genuine one to try and build a side for a tilt at the top end or just to grow a team to sell again for the percentage boys and to plug the big hole of running costs. Venky world will never sit well with me but i'm trying.

If Bolton have anyone decent let to sell they'll probably shift them on to cover the incomings, hell their players were on strike over unpaid wages a few weeks ago.

"The fleas of a thousand camels..." That line is messageboard gold surely ??

As time goes on the Gallagher loan looks far more tempting, don't quite get some of the negative stuff on here about him we aren't going to get the finished article and he should be a bit less raw now than last time. I'd only consider it on a sensible fee not some of the numbers quoted but he will score goals and can we say that about anyone else apart from Graham at the min ? We all want another version of the DG that first arrived here but Lambert pulled an ace out of the hole there almost Hughes like and the guy cost Prem wages which were covered by Rhodes impending departure. That's unlikely to happen again and give me SG up top over Samuel or Nuttall anyday, no disrespect to them I just think he carries far more goal threat.

Not sure it's assumptious when it's based on hard evidence there's plenty examples all down the years of them okaying wages of not so cheap loan signings but being asked to sign off maybe 3/400k in one go as down payment on guys maybe costing upwards of a million not so much Dack aside in recent times, certainly not after the parachutes dried up. One signing like that per season would do me as in a regular decent investment which might have a return in time then other incomings made up the usual way. Slow steady build within a sensible budget but it's a fine balancing act, carry on as started last season and dip the hand in the pocket a little deeper for at least one player with a bit of quality or quickly revert to type and spread a few hundred grand across a few bodies because you are desperate for numbers. I'm sure Waggot is now staring this problem in the face.

Last night was a friendly so it's all about fitness and stretching the legs but going into the season starting Samuel on the wing either just to keep trying to justify him or because there is no one else isn't adequate to what will be needed in the Championship, more so if Conways starting on the left. You'll get away with it in league 1 but it's a weak move for most games a league above, very poor if that turns out the case.

When a new guy comes in the challenge laid down was always going to be you must increase income and aside from selling players there's no other way so I suppose he's just doing the standard stuff and starting with the easiest targets. He'll soon have to realise though there is a big difference between a modest sized working class Northern town and a densely populated London borough or a rather large Midlands city, both in money and mindset terms even if they are now operating at different levels.

Toon can't be that keen to get rid of Armstrong they've zero chance of getting that he's a 1.5 million pound punt tops.