alex l

The tone of that statement i.e. lack of content makes me think he's been pushed out, possibly due to the national and international headlines from the Women's team situation? Maybe told Suhail and the Venkys it would be fine, but they've actually been embarrassed with the coverage and he's taken the blame for it.

Rachel Dugdale was on 5 Live Breakfast - you can listen on BBC sounds and go back to about 6:28 - spoke well about the situation. Hopefully the criticism of the owners makes it back to them and isn't screened out by the board (which is what I personally think happens to a lot of the discontent). Perhaps the most telling line from what she said was along the basis of 'we fought all season to prevent relegation, yet the club has now self-relegated'.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y88zdgzp8o Good on Dugdale for also speaking out. No contact to the players since the announcement was made, unsurprisingly. Calls on the owners test to also incorporate women's teams. Even better is her linkedin post. Lots of interesting detail about the club, highest earner etc. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rachel-dugdale-338b90123_reflections-on-blackburn-rovers-reading-activity-7330864751251451906-5uC-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAB6bztwBhX25L8-tIrXRBZDOYrqfmREtgTQ&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacICQ-RIlgQqTgeCKnZir8HnML6UKaYyUEmEERn7q8ctAG48lc-ACSJ1Hgvaw_aem_egOuzZyycqtGeYElVVHUFA

Weimann did enough to get another year, but the injury is a question mark against him. Wouldn't be unhappy to have him as a sub and grabbing some late goals, but will be more concerned if it is Batth who we don't tie down.

The downgrading of the women's team, or even if it was abolished altogether, doesn't upset me per se. It's how it's been handled and what is symbolises. By all accounts, those involved in the team have been treated like crap and communication has been poor. Had the club, last summer, said we'd be unlikely to run the team in the new wsl2 due to the costs, everyone has fair notice. But they didn't, and it's against the rhetoric we've heard of 'owners never fail to write a cheque', or the logic that we've banked £30m+ across 12 months. It's like they're too proud/stubborn/afraid to say 'Rovers are skint, we're watching all the pennies, sorry to the Women's team but we can't afford to run the team's. As for the fans who don't give a toss about the women's team, they should be careful what it could mean down the line. That precious Cat A academy is only kept as such because those running the place are hoping it unearths another Wharton, or at least others to keep modest sums coming in. If it doesn't produce first team players for a couple of seasons, they'll downgrade that too. The club shop will go online only other than match days and those in Row A will get high vis jackets so they can double up as stewards. In the meantime, the board continues to do everything they can to reduce the owners' annual investment, and they probably get rewarded for it. Rant over.

Ah in that case let's take the men's team to semi-pro too. The other common response seems to be "did you ever watch the women's team", in which case let's reduce our youth teams and under 23s as well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9wgg8y881lo BBC article shedding more light on how poorly they've been treated. Meetings postponed yesterday and earlier today before they were finally told in the afternoon.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/may/20/club-update--blackburn-rovers-women/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKZkApleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhAJRanbeipyL3anNuCveQjZtV4wFfa63XST0FSs2ncHcZdD_Wxbk8G564Oq_aem_gnIfHbM6y0gWfbVN66QBxg Confirmation from the club.

Oh how I miss these days, I'd even have Roberts back, as frustrating as he could be.

No idea which thread this actually fits in. Looks like long time player liaison is leaving. Either that or Trav is!

A couple of matches, and I follow their social accounts. I can't take a high and mighty stance on this, if it was decided the women's team should be ceased with good reason, I'd accept it. My bigger issue is, once again, club communication has been awful, based on Murphy's post. Treat those involved with the team respectfully and I'd have little issue. However I seem to recall there were issues last summer, and there were mumblings that they weren't even allowed to use coffee machines at the STC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ced288q1vg3o And when it was thought they couldn't do any worse by the women's team, they do this. Poor way to treat the team and staff.

Not sure the club have confirmed it, also we don't know when he was informed of the decision, it may have been days/weeks ago

Ishmael has done enough so that we don't need to be looking to sack him, there's enough trust to give him a go to shape the squad. However, there is little trust that those involved in the signing process will give him what he wants. Trying to be objective - Ohashi, gueye to an extend, cantwell to an extent, Yuri, beck, bath, weimann - successes. Baker also to an extent. Sanderson and Forshaw - I don't think they've done anything which will make them be missed. Acd - awful. Too early for the young lad, may have been better in L1.

Wasn't even that header that annoyed me, I understand how they can be difficult to direct and not every player has the technique. On the other hand, the ball to the back stick where he touched it to their keeper... Either try to be van basten and shoot or smash it across goal to create chaos/a chance. Don't do fuck all with it.

69 points two seasons ago, and the same the season before that. This season that would have made the play offs.

Or Denis Irwin, Denis the menace or even flipping nasher

Not the game for AK, we weren't finding space in behind and he combined that with awful decision making. Whoever signed Dennis needs their mandate taking away. Literally no contributions to us getting any points. One assist, I think, in a losing game. Otherwise injured and a red card. That run of 8 when VI joined did us. He's justified to a point in putting it to the injuries we had, which just goes to show the squad wasn't supported enough or correctly in Jan.

Or gilsenen at Harrogate? When was Buckley's?

Glad to know it's not just me who woke up early with football on the mind. Just hope there are no regrets come 1430, no tepid attempt and other results going as we need. And yet, given the last 4 games, I'm fairly confident the lads will have a proper go and not let this pass them by.

I'd imagine the cost of living pressure is greater now than in most of the previous 15 years.

I don't think Dolan is 100% gone.... If all the stars align and we end up being promoted (yes, not very likely) he'll sign on. There'd be an argument that he isn't of the standard needed in the Prem, but we'd offer a better contract if only to be able to sell him down the line.

Candidates for Head of Special Deliveries - Mulgrew, Bentley, Gamst.

I actually think it was quite smart given how it's panned out. Had he been naff, low risk. It's not like a loan where the player was returning to their club. Had we given Forshaw a 2.5 year or even 1.5 year contract, it'd be (rightly) said to be poor business. With Yuri, we've essentially had a trial period before committing.

I'm pretty sure these days it's standard to have promotion/relegation clauses so salaries would probably change accordingly in either scenario