I’d throw Gilsenan in tomorrow.

Basically those who CAN’T print or use a smartphone rather than those who don’t want to.

I spoke to both Steve Waggott and Fraser Read specifically about this issue on Tuesday. These are the reasons I believe they have made the decision: - The idea of “Digital Day” is apparently a small part of a broader commitment to the EFL Green Club Standard scheme. My own thoughts are that this is a literal box tick towards that accreditation, and there is a lot more work to be done that will have significant costs attached, but will also provide savings in the long run. - Secondly there is a long term plan to move more towards digital sales and ticketing, which is happening everywhere. Rovers are behind the curve in relation to other football clubs. While we have digital tickets, uptake is low. Obviously the reason I got in touch with them was down to the problems this is causing supporters who want to attend the game. They are well aware of the criticism and have received contact and correspondence directly, they have also seen what people are saying on social media and this thread. They immediately conceded that the message hadn’t been conveyed in an appropriate manner, they know it has caused upset/concern/anger and I’m positive there will be some discussions around this. What should’ve been pitched as a “join us on our digital journey” type message has come across as “do it or be left behind”. I don’t know who is to blame for the tone of it, it’s obviously down to them to manage that. I explained that we’d had people contacting us directly to ask for help to ensure they could get a ticket. I outlined two proposal which WATR would be happy to endorse/assist with. 1) We would provide assistance to people on Saturday to get online. If necessary take cash and buy and print tickets for them. 2) Suggested a cash turnstile for a block of seats. Whether it was always the plan or it’s a direct result of the negative feedback, the club are basically going to do point one. They are having a permanent digital assistance point in the club shop, ensuring phone staff are trained up to provide support and not just sales. Perhaps most importantly they stated that they would not refuse anyone a ticket as a result of the changes. There will be exceptions where a paper ticket will be provided - but it’s an exception rather than an option. Cash turnstile wasn’t an option as, although green, doesn’t contribute to the second aim highlighted above. The aim here for the Trust wasn’t to “take the club to task” - it would’ve been a waste of everyone’s time as they are getting that message loud and clear already. The idea was to try and find a solution. Obviously we made the point that the timing of the furore here wasn’t great considering the efforts we were making for Fan Takeover. This isn’t an endorsement by WATR of a long term move to digital only ticketing - I think the fanbase have made their thought on that abundantly clear. This appears to be a pilot that has been badly presented and received. Perhaps if we had been consulted beforehand we could’ve let them know how much apprehension and concern the idea would be met with. As a slight aside, we’re in discussions regarding season tickets for next year (happy to discuss with anyone who fancies a chat on Saturday) and these recent events will likely tie into that in the future.

I’m hoping there are a good number of walk ons and on the day sales. Some early wages and Universal Credit payments for Christmas should hopefully help tomorrow 🤞🤞 At 2 quid a ticket there should be some groups of kids all going with their mates, if the weather is reasonably kind.

We’re giving away some freebies in the fanzone. We’re also selling our gift membership packs. £15 gets you a retro scarf, your certificate and card, and all the usual perks of membership. Good last minute gift for the Rovers fans in your life, plus it helps us to continue doing things like this.

As @Mike E points out above that was definitely Paul Fielder. His idea of a digital (every)day was having an empty ground where everyone watched on a screen and could use virtual reality to go wherever they wanted in the ground when a match was on. I’m not even joking. He categorically stated he didn’t want fans in the ground and pretty soon it would be a thing of the past. Also supporting a team was outdated as people supported players these days, and he was all about finding players who were a brand. He also told me he had approached Liam Gallagher about playing a gig at Ewood Park and “it’s happening, trust me.” This was the reality of his efforts… He also repeatedly referred to himself as @the most qualified man in football”. If a certain one time poster on here who went to QEGS is to be believed, Fielder had been hand picked and recommended to Venky’s and would soon be taking over from Waggott. Obviously that didn’t happen, and Fielder is now residing and working in Australia. On the flip side, when Fraser Read was asked why he had joined Rovers, his answer was “Why wouldn’t I jump at the chance to join Rovers. It’s a massive club with all the potential in the world. It’s a sleeping giant and we need to get back to the Premier League”. For clarity Fraser didn’t replace Fielder, there was some overlap and since he buggered off they haven’t bothered replacing Fielder at all which speaks volumes. The two have different roles. That said, the plans for Cambridge are clearly unacceptable. The Supporters Trust have made this clear to both Fraser Read and Steve Waggott, let’s see if they are willing to alter their approach as I’m sure the backlash has been pretty severe and the criticism unanimous.

JDT has had an absolute shocker today. We know he can be stubborn, and today it has really bitten us. Hill and Brittain (more on him later) were woeful. Not changing that at half time was stupid. Ennis would definitely have been a better option to bring on than Leonard, and quite why we didn’t bring on some more fresh legs with the 10 men flagging and the game gone I don’t know. I’ve never really taken to Brittain as a player. While he has ability in the ball I think he shirks a lot and hides. Today his performance was gutless and disgraceful. He stood around pointing and flailing his arms, tracked back quarter-heartedly at best, and kicked the ball just to be rid of it. His red card summed him up, and I hope it leads to a prolonged spell out of the side. Off days for most of them today. Wahlstedt definitely MOTM, Pickering steady, Adam Wharton the best of the rest. They’d be the only players I’d give a 6 or better to. Leonard and Moran are struggling for form at the minute, and not just today. It’s understandable, but it’s a problem that we are so heavily reliant on them.

Cocky wanker got what he deserved with that pen.

I doubt he’s clamouring to play right back. He doesn’t seem to enjoy the defensive side of the game much.

Szmodics losing his head. We’ve lost already so take him off.

Brittain has been a liability from about the third minute today. A red card for two bookings, despite the fact he doesn’t have a tackle in him. Least of all today.

He doesn’t shirk tackles and isn’t on a booking though.

Brittain and Moran off for Travis and Ennis if we want to attempt to salvage something here.

Hill and Brittain horror-show down our right hand side.

On it…

For some reason Moran’s normally reliable touch completely deserted him last night. Looked like he couldn’t trap a bag of cement. Real off day but he’ll get over it.

What a strange evening. We were cruising til we gave that silly goal away. The crowd was very sparse tonight and there was absolutely no atmosphere until the ref completely lost the plot for the last 20 minutes or so and gave us all something to shout about! Wahlstedt MOTM tonight. Brittain much better. Our midfield 2 is brilliant, but we need to realise that we can’t play the same way we do with Wharton and Tronstad when they aren’t both on the pitch. Moran had an absolute shocker and should’ve gone off before his error for their goal. I thought we missed Ennis in the second half, a promising performance from him, he’s got something about him. Leonard struggled when he got on. Big 3 points to take us into the Christmas period!

If you’re heading down to Ewood tonight you can help make sure a child who might not otherwise, receives a present this Christmas. Soft toys, footballs, caps, clothing, toys and memorabilia will all be gratefully received. The Community Trust are doing some great work feeding kids who might otherwise be going hungry during the school holidays, hopefully we can put a smile on their faces on Christmas morning.

Brittain is fine when the going is good. When the going gets tough he isn’t one to roll his sleeves up, and he goes missing.

Which stand(s) was the trouble in today Josh? I’m away for the weekend so was watching on the telly? I’ve witnessed several incidents in the Riverside of incredibly poor security/stewarding in the last couple of seasons. Supporters asking for assistance being completely ignored, stewards going off hiding rather than confronting rule breaking, not addressing anything that is unsafe. In fact I can’t remember the last time I saw them do anything within their job description. Fortunately it’s never been anything major, but I said at the Burnley game last season that if any of their lot had got in there would be real trouble because the stewards would be totally incapable and unwilling to deal with it. The one good thing I have seen lately was in the JW upper at one of the league cup games where a steward (young lad of about 18/19) asked some kids to stop running across the back of the stand in a patient and appropriate manner outlining why it was dangerous.

We needed everyone to be at their best today, few were anywhere near it and Leonard and Brittain were woeful. Hill limping off is a major concern as he’s both our best full back and centre back. Thought our midfield two today more than held their own but didn’t have enough quality and sometimes desire around them. Bobby Madley is an abysmal referee. Stone wall penalty missed, massively inconsistent with his cards, I’d suggest getting him a guide dog but I don’t think he’s allowed near them any more.

I’d be tempted to bring in Sigurdsson for Brittain here, and Ennis for Leonard before long.

Broughton stating that we believe him to be the player with the most potential outside the Premier League, so if there is a release clause I’d expect it to reflect that. Very good thing that we are rewarding our youngsters in a timely manner and in a way that is dictated by their importance to the team rather than some arbitrary parameters around age. It’s a welcome change that will better protect our academy graduates.

On the first point, ticket pricing and communications from the club to the fan base are probably the big two. The financial situation and transfer window failings (which in January was more outright criticism than constructive in all honesty) were definitely another. Both touch on the communication issue again and a lot of this comes back to the disconnect between the club and the fans, which we have spoken about it at length for the last couple of years since I’ve been back on the trust board. Rather than keep talking we’ve tried to be more proactive, and things like this consultation and the fans takeover day are actually happening. On the second point, I agree personally and will continue to make that point. We will have to see what the majority of respondents say.

An absolutely incompetent refereeing display. I’m not generally one to slate officials, but not for the first time this season we’ve been the victims of an absolutely shambolic display. I’ve genuinely seen 16 year old kids and old men who can barely get out of the centre circle do better in Sunday leagues. Can’t put it all down to the dire ref though, again we fell short when it came to anything remotely physical. Brittain was the worst culprit and is one of the softest players I’ve ever seen. I’d have hooked him for Garrett at half time. Moran is either very good or very poor, never be a solid 6/7 out of 10, either a 5 or an 8/9. The injury list caught up with us today, but I’d have definitely given Garrett some minutes. Maybe even Montgomery or Duru too, as someone a bit fired up and over-exuberant wouldn’t have been the worst thing today.