arbitro

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52581841 No spectators at Dutch sporting events until a vaccine has been found. I fear that may be a while yet.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11983295/premier-league-gordon-taylor-raises-possibility-of-shorter-halves-for-season-resumption The septuagenarian PFA boss spouts more of his nonsense. The PL have said it's a complete non starter by the way.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52529679 Some really interesting facts are contained in this piece from the football financial lecturer Kevin Maguire. This pandemic aside it shows how precarious the situation is for most EPL clubs.

I sincerely hope after the furore over the lack of testing kits that the 'moneybags' PL aren't allowed to enter a Dutch Auction for them and in turn deprive people far more worthy of testing.

1/ John Barton, John Butcher and Jason Brown. 2/ El-Hadji Diouf, Carlos Villanueva and Tugay Kerimoglu. 3/ Andy Cole and Paul Dickov. 4/ Buxton. 5/ Matt Jansen. 6/ Bolton Wanderers. The attendance was 62,522. 7/ Arsenal. 8/ Six. 83-84 v Derby (h) and Portsmouth (h) 86-87 v Sunderland (h) 88-89 v Oldham (h) and Man City (h) 89-90 v Barnsley (h) 9/ O'Keefe, Price, Sulley, Barker, Keeley, Mail, Miller, Ainscow, Hendry, Garner, Sellars. Subs: Patterson and Branagan 10/ David Batty. 11/ Watford.

In an effort to relieve the boredom I have put together a Rovers specific quiz for which I will post the answers on a new thread. No googling and the referees decision is final ??. 1/ Rovers have had three goalkeepers with the initials JB - name them. 2/ There have been three Rovers players in recent times whose full names contain all five vowels. Can you name them? 3/ Six clubs have won the EPL. Only two players have played for four of them (not necessarily when they won it though). Who are they? 4/ Tony Parkes joined Rovers from which non league club in 1970? 5/ Who was Rovers leading goalscorer in the successful Worthington Cup campaign in 2001-02? 6/ Who were Rovers opponents when the record attendance was set at Ewood? For a bonus what was it (generously I'll give you to the nearest one hundred). 7/ Who were Rovers opponents in their first ever EPL game at Ewood? 8/ How many hat-tricks did Simon Garner score for Rovers? 9/ Name the Rovers team that won the Full Members Cup against Charlton in 1987? 10/ Which former Rover missed a penalty against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France? 11/ Which club did Ken Furphy leave to join Rovers as manager in 1970? Answers on a separate thread soon.

I agree and there are several items which have been raised which will bring into question the integrity of the game. The Chief Exec of Brighton has already stated that out of their remaining nine games five are at home and playing at neutral venues would take away that advantage.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11982637/premier-league-clubs-prepare-for-202021-season-behind-closed-doors Speculation that even next season supporters won't be admitted into grounds. Although this is a PL centric article (it's Sky after all) surely this would apply to all football until a vaccine is found and widely available.

The advent of academies has seen the numbers increase massively. I saw a photo the other day of the dugout when Jim Iley was here. There were three people in it, Iley, the trainer/physio (they did both jobs then) and the obligatory one substitute. Now there so many in the technical areas including medics, analysts and none playing squad members it's impossible to know who is who. I watched the 1987 Cup Final on ITV yesterday and saw a Coventry player called Mickey Gynn. I read that he became a postman after retiring as did Neil Webb. I remember a player called David Hillier who played at Arsenal and Portsmouth amongst others. He became a fireman.

For the integrity of the competition I imagine it will have to be used after using it so far and it playing a part in the outcome of matches. I would think (from seeing inside Stockley Park on tv) that a safe distance can be made between the operators.

Excellent news about your recovery Paul. You'll be back suffering with the rest of us at Ewood at some stage in the future ??. Stay safe and follow the advice mate.

Rovers players, staff and management agree to wage deferrals. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2020/april/club-statement/

He only mentions integrity in the context of finishing the competitions rather than any other solutions that are being banded about. Do you not agree with that?

The QPR Chief Exec, Lee Hoos makes some really good points about the current (and beyond) issues football is facing. He also mentions that season ticket holders may have to be reimbursed. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11711/11980286/coronavirus-qpr-chief-executive-lee-hoos-fears-clubs-are-being-pushed-to-the-brink

That's my recollection of him too Andy. I always thought he was decent but that was it. I understand though he was an excellent anchor man for televised football in Spain which was some achievement given that Spanish wasn't his first language.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-ligue-1-season-cancelled-21940250 Another top European league calls it a day for this season.

No disrespect as I know you replied to my post but I lost interest after reading your first paragraph.

Pretty much my thoughts. Rovers could score massively from a supporter relationship perspective by offering some incentive to current season ticket holders by some gesture of goodwill. Waggott has spoken previously about valuing customers - now is the time to be innovative.

I'm chuffed about that Andy but you could have answered my conundrum. They just weren't happy with an Englishman who had the same surname as something as iconic in Wales. ???

I refereed at Rhyl when they were in the Northern Premier League and, as you say Parson they were a welcoming and very hospitable club. As I remember though there fans were vociferous and not shy in telling me when they thought I'd got one wrong ☺️.

Thanks. Rhyl could be the first of many. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52376408

I didn't. Can you give me the gist of what he said please?

You have raised probably the most important point in this crisis when you mention season tickets. For most clubs outside the PL (where TV money dwarfs all other income) the summer is vital as it's when the bulk of their cash comes in. Given the uncertainty at the moment (and for some time yet I think) I doubt clubs have been able to give season tickets much thought. The worst case would be no spectators until next year and that would mean half season tickets being available but the other side of the coin is that many clubs just won't survive that long with no money coming in. There is no easy way out of this for many. As you rightly say football is at the crossroads and sadly many clubs will go the way of Bury. For many of the ones that survive will be run on a shoestring. I fear that we will fall into that category.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52381612 The clubs in the National Leagues have been decisive and ended their competitions immediately although there needs to be further discussion on promotion and relegation. I wonder what BT Sports have done as they have the tv rights to the National League including playoffs. The comments from the Barrow director are interesting considering the selfish comments we have seen from some of the big hitters.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11976052/charlton-athletic-takeover-by-east-street-investments-under-investigation-by-efl It seems that Charlton are in bother again but equally the EFL and it's 'fit and proper' test should be investigated thoroughly. Taken from the article is this: But majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer has still yet to satisfy EFL requests for proof and source of funding. He is now being investigated, along with former executive chairman Matt Southall and Jonathan Heller, who were both removed from the Charlton board last month after a bitter civil war for control of the Championship club.