Are we entitled to compensation even though we have allowed his contract to expire? Edit: There would seem to be little point for him in running down his contract if that were the case.

How could Ismael not have known this was the situation when he signed up to the madhouse though?

I'll take your word for it but I struggle to get my head round the concept that anyone could possibly come over worse than Waggott. Always came over like a dodgy second hand car salesman and all you ever seemed to get out of him at the meetings was either a reason why something couldn't be done or "We weren't aware of that" or "We'll look into it".

This sudden new narrative about us unexpectedly and unluckily being "in transition" is absolute rubbish. It's always been claimed since VI arrived that the aim was to add more pace and power to the squad so there's nothing new there and RG also said during the car crash interviews that the number of players out of contract was an exciting opportunity to reshape the squad so again the possibility that players might not be extending their stays has been known for some time. Looks like the recruitment/retention of staff hasnt been going as well as expected and they're starting to panic a bit.

In the comedy section of the LT Jackson has written about how we've learnt how much we'll need to pay to land our CB "target" Kapauldi. Apparently his Clubs will consider bids from Clubs offering E5m (£4.1m) What have we offered - about one third of that? Lol.

On that basis, no-one would ever get involved with a football club or indeed any sort of business. "Nah, let's not bother. More trouble than it's worth".

Or the opposition constantly running in behind him. Neither do we.

I dont think they WANT to go down to League 1, there's absolutely no upside to be had either in terms of selling players or TV revenue. However someone has seemingly convinced them they can survive in the Championship by shedding all the high cost players, and take a moneyball approach to the Lower Leagues in Europe, sell anyone who does well, no need to reinvest any sale proceeds, just rinse and repeat. I doubt it will last long, if it does, we won't.

There's been more in the LT this summer about where former players have been ending up than about our actual activity which speaks volumes.

They must think we're as thick as mince. They just want the cheapest possible options they think they can get away with in the squad - in this case unproven youngsters. If (hypothetically) established 27-28 year olds were cheaper than youngsters in terms of wages, then the narrative would be all about needing Championship experience. And we'd be looking to fill the squad with those sorts of players. This is what worries me about VI. I dont think he is thick as mince and I dont see how he can possibly believe this will work.

Originally, they paid the Walkers a total of £24m if I recall correctly plus taking on the external Bank overdraft of c£15m at the time. They're never getting any more than that unless we get promoted. The £200m or whatever it is is gone. The trick is finding someone who thinks they can turn us round and is willing to pay them something akin to what they paid for us with the remainder of the debt written off

Technically, (as with Jack) aren't the amounts that have been run up long term loans to the owners with no realistic expectation they'll ever be repaid? Unless of course we got promoted and stayed there for a number of years. Edit: Wilesden beat me to it.

The risk of "going for it" is that you might get promoted then instantly relegated and sacked I suppose. Easier and a lot less hassle in the long run to plod on indefinitely in the lower reaches of the Championship with no pressure or expectations of success on you.

It's started already. Seemingly according to Nixon on his Patreon page we're ready to offer Hyam a new deal. Doesn't float my boat but might placate some people I suppose.

That all sounds very encouraging. In general, do you feel it's more useful having Suhail there than Waggott, not as useful or no difference whatsoever?

That Rover End Dude is either the most obvious Club plant of all time or clinically insane. Sticks out like a sore thumb. Always amongst the first to comment on anything that happens and always toes the party line. Prior to the January transfer window he didn't want us spending any money and in his eyes putting the Club's financial future at risk. He wanted to build slowly. However that works.

You said it not me but I suspect you're not a million miles away. I thought it might have been Todd Cantwell. He seems to like dropping hints on Dolan's future without his say so.

As anyone can edit a Wikipedia page, might just be someone being mischievous or could actually be a tease by Dolan for the eagle eyed as to his destination. Good luck to him if it is them. I'm sure he'd be on a wage more commensurate with his ability than he'd be on here.

You can't. If you could, you could have a risk free bet to win a fortune by laying it off on the betting exchanges. Like Hasta says no odds are available yet for relegation but likely to be about 5/1 or 6/1. For comparison purposes Bet 365 have us 17th favourites at 50/1 to win the League and 14/1 to be promoted. That'll be roughly where they expect us to finish at this stage before a ball is kicked. You could probably safely add a zero on the end of those and not be out of pocket.

Heard something similar from someone whose source was Eric Kinder. He was sacked at least once years ago but reinstated after Balaji personally intervened.

Not exactly, but they both did the honourable thing and walked when the situation became untenable for them. If VI does the same at some point I'll have a similar level of respect. If he doesn't and just puts up with whatever **** they throw at him as we decline, I won't.

It's worse than that Hedges is now being touted as a full back option. Going for a lie down in a darkened room.

You're probably right, but for me it's a bit like saying you dont judge a CB on how many goals the side have conceded.

I dont want to hear him say it as he waves them out of the door, anyone worth his salt who really wanted to keep the trio would have persuaded the powers that be to stump up the funds to keep them.

7 goals in four seasons for us. Mind you it's not as though we didn't know what we were getting when we signed him, at age 29 I think he's scored around 17 career goals. Dreadful player.