Miller11

I’m late to this but… considering what happened between 1992 and 2010, our hardcore number should’ve grown. And it did. In 99/00 and 00/01 we were nearly at a 20k average in the second tier. The hardcore aren’t the same individuals for the most part. Someone who attended their first match as a 10 year old in 1992, and caught the bug is 40 now. A 40 year old who was one of the 8,000 in the early 70s likely won’t be around. If we accept a percentage of all attending fans will be fanatical, with a period of success, and consistently higher attendances throughout the 90s our fanbase should’ve grown to the point where the hardcore wasn’t slipping back to pre-Jack levels. Venky’s are responsible for the absolute decimation of our crowds. The only thing comparable to the effect they have had is the drop off and widespread falling out with the club that occurred as a result of the 1960 cup final. That took nearly 30 years to turn around. I worry that phrases like “natural level” or “core support” give a pass, or at least make it easier for Waggott and co. to shrug their shoulders and not bother trying to reverse the trend.

I’ve seen Bradford mentioned too, but to be honest I don’t really care enough to look. If other clubs have been stupid enough or too last minute to submit completed deals on time it’s on them, just like our issues are on us.

Plenty on Twitter are absolving Rovers of any blame for this debacle. All the EFL’s fault apparently. The mind boggles.

Are you excusing the incompetence of Rovers staff then?

Is Ian Silvester - Club and Company Secretary getting off a bit lightly here?

Really? It sounds utterly incompetent.

I wish they’d just put us out of our misery one way or the other over this transfer debacle.

They will probably be late to the appeal hearing.

I suppose it remains to be seen, but it’s the only whisper I’ve heard. Everyone else seems to have no clue what’s going on.

Apparently the deal has been rejected and we have an appeal at 4pm.

They don’t all have a happy ending.

What must O’Brien be making of all this?!

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we tried to just omit that particular bit of the paperwork hoping nobody would notice, as I’d be amazed if that potential expenditure would ever be sanctioned.

I reckon a desperate, frivolous appeal is happening right now.

It’s utterly bizarre that a multi-billion dollar industry is still reliant on physical form filling in by the sounds of things. If we are genuinely still using faxes it’s completely baffling. You’d think there’d be some sort of online portal. If there is there’s no excuses for missing deadlines.

Cheers! Hopefully I can make it

Am I right in thinking this game is now at Leyland? I bought the three ticket deal months ago when it was planned to be played at Ewood. Not sure if the tickets will still be valid, or if I can make it to Leyland on time.

I still think there must have been some last minute change of tack from Venky’s, possibly after someone on the ground at Ewood pleaded a case. One minute we are scratting around trying to find players within a very limited budget and not bringing in a cheap keeper til one goes. All of a sudden we are lining up a move for an in demand premier league player, on high wages, with a big clause, where other championship clubs “couldn’t make the finances work”. Its entirely possible there was some heel dragging, back tracking or back and forth that caused delays.

Deafening silence while the fans work themselves into a frenzy is a poor attempt at softening the blow!

The Venky effect in picture form

Every transfer window ends up somewhere in between better than feared, and worse than I hoped for. If we sign O’Brien it’ll be better than I expected. If we haven’t signed a striker I won’t be surprised.

O’Brien and the Rochdale young un in, Markanday out apparently.

I was going to say I hope the outcome is the same this time, but that breakfast was probably the high point of Slew’s stay.

This reminds me of when I walked in to Blues bar on the first of September and Jordan Slew was sat there with his agent having breakfast. ”So you’ve signed then Jordan?” ”Fingers crossed. Hope the paperwork went through in time.”

With the rollercoaster of deadline day, and a match, I completely forgot I took this photo this morning… Our merchandise in the totally wicked shop. The only thing I didn’t get in the snap was the few 2018 yellow away mini kits for your car.