Miller11

Really interesting. I suppose it just goes to show that there are different outlooks in every fanbase, and that perceptions from the outside aren’t always completely accurate. I’ve also seen they have put out a breakdown of Forest’s recent accounts. They look quite familiar! Interestingly though the Forest owners are seen as irresponsible and bonkers, their input appears to be very similar to Venky’s who are widely seen as supportive and benevolent.

Questions I would like to put to Waggott. 1. In your recent communication you disingenuously stated that the facilities at Brockhall are 30 years old, and implied they needed upgrading. - Specifically, which facilities are “tired” or outdated? - What will they be upgraded to? - If the facilities are not up to standard how did we maintain Cat 1 status? Burnley’s brand new training complex for example is only cat 2. - What “state of the art” facilities are we lacking? - If facilities require upgrading has finance for this been requested from Venky’s and been refused? It would not count toward FFP calculations. - You have made several references to other teams facilities, namely Everton and St George’s park. They are much larger facilities than it would be possible to replicate on one site. Just in terms of pitch space we will be miles behind. Does it not concern you that we will be losing not only pitch space in the short term, but also limiting any potential for future development? 2. In the same document it states: “The club is therefore looking at a plan to develop a new coaching structure – to support and accelerate player pathway through the system” - Please could you outline what this structure looks like? - Is this a plan outside of the established Elite Player Performance Plan? If so, why are we deviating from industry standard? - If not, do you envision retaining Cat 1 status? This seems unlikely given the reduction in pitch space. - Whose vision is this? Who has designed this new structure? - Surely it makes more sense to tweak a coaching structure in line with facilities than to reduce facilities to accommodate a structure? 3. A long term reduction of running costs has been given as a reason for this proposal. - Is this an acknowledgement that promotion is unlikely, or perhaps not even a target? - Surely any savings would be minimal with this proposed scheme, particularly in comparison to the increased revenue a promotion would bring? They would also take years to realise. 4. Steve Waggott has been involved in redevelopment projects at both Gillingham and Southend which didn’t come to fruition. There were also well documented issues at Coventry while he and members of our management team were there. - Ground redevelopment appears to be a recurring theme throughout your career, however your track record appears very poor. Neither Gillingham or Southend have the new grounds you were working towards. Coventry have no ground and an absolutely farcical situation with their training ground. Are you the best person to be managing this project? - Why do you appear to value property deals above fan engagement, or marketing of the club? -Do you or anyone involved in the club have relationships with or interests in property development firms?

Is he just taking the piss now?

His latest line is telling us to “look at St George’s Park” OK Steve, this is from the “about” section on the FA website... Built in 2012 and set in 330-acres of stunning Staffordshire countryside, St. George's Park is the home of England’s national football teams. With 13 outdoor pitches, including a replica of the Wembley surface, a full-size indoor 3G pitch, a suite of rehabilitation and sports science areas, and an indoor futsal arena, St. George’s Park provides world-class facilities for the England teams ahead of international fixtures. I’d add about another 8 storeys to your proposed training Centre Steve. And I await your proposals detailing how you intend to defy the laws of physics to give us enough pitches with baited breath. The higher ups at Gillingham and Southend got rid of Waggott very quickly from roles where he was supposedly overseeing ground moves (neither of which have come to fruition I might add). Hopefully this will just be another in the long list of his failed redevelopment schemes, and he goes away soon.

Some clarity on the expiring contracts would be nice. Nyambe’s in particular. Do we have an option, and how has it been allowed to get to this stage.

I did forget Coyle. I’m certainly not planning on sitting idly by while Waggott sells of the training ground, but I don’t think a boycott is the right way for so many reasons. It would be extremely poorly received in my opinion. There people who are keen to get back in Ewood after the pandemic won’t be put off by anything. I’d also expect a significant number just to drift away. As I’ve mentioned, plenty of vocal support for Waggott’s hair brained scheme away from this board. I’ve been trying to point out the glaring issues with the proposal on social media and on Rovers Radio. I think the best way that supporters can try and combat it is to work with local Brockhall residents.

If only! The words “state of the art” have got a lot excited. Plenty of fans now happily trotting out rubbish about our facilities being “30 years old”, “tired”, “not fit for purpose”, “outdated”, “behind the times”. In the eyes of many, Venky’s can do no wrong. Apparently, “Their only mistake was trusting the wrong person”. By extension, Waggott is viewed as a savvy operator, doing an excellent job in trying circumstances rather than the disingenuous serial failure who is in way over his head that he is in reality. To be fair to him and Mowbray, they did a great PR job on Friday. There are only 5 people who have had anything to do with Rovers in the last decade who deserve anything other than blind praise in the eyes of these people. Steve Kean, Jerome Anderson, Danny Murphy, Jason Lowe and Paul Lambert. Shebby Singh gets a bit of an eye roll, but that’s it. It’s astonishing.

Link to the plans here

I really don’t think there is any valid reason to stick with Mowbray at this point. Poor, disjointed performances lacking any proper game plan or idea are the rule rather than the exception, and in reality that’s been the case since at least the return from the first lockdown at the back end of last season. We are now regressing rapidly, and with our upcoming fixtures a relegation battle could well be on the cards. There are two main arguments you see in favour of keeping him. By far the most popular is celebrating his limited successes and the stability he has brought. Even if you take all that at face value (which we shouldn’t), how does that equate to him being the right man going forward? The more time goes on, the further in the past these achievements are. Little mention of the present, because it’s shit. Then there’s the whole “Do you trust Venky’s to find anyone better?” No, of course I don’t. I’m unwavering in my criticisms of them. I fully expect them to dip back in to the HSH scrap heap and see who else comes out. I doubt I’ll be overly inspired by who they do choose, but that doesn’t mean someone underperforming at the level Mowbray currently is should stay here indefinitely. It’s odd that many of the people using this argument are the same people who are really critical of anyone who dares suggest Venky’s are anything more than benevolent saviours, duped by the evil Jerome. There’s not even so much an acceptance of mediocrity anymore than an embracing of it. The dumbing down looks to continue for some time to come. On of the main reasons I personally want Mowbray gone is that the serial failure that is Waggott will hopefully piss off too before he flogs swathes of our training ground and drives away any more supporters. I accept we are stuck with Venky’s for the foreseeable, but we shouldn’t ever stop asking questions of them, or demanding better.

Milk the hardcore and make no attempts to reengage or grow the fanbase has been Waggott’s tactic from day one.

I’ve bitten today at “The worst thing we ever did was win the Prem.” Disgusting.

We’ve also got a show today at 1pm https://roversradio.co.uk/listen-live Plenty of talk about Waggott. It was recorded before Mowbray’s Coventry address, which seems to have overtaken “I have a dream” but narrowly trails to “we shall fight on the beaches” in the list of greatest ever speeches... so not as “positive” as some would like. Right, I’m off back to Twitter to argue with people who believe winning the Premier League was the worst thing the club ever did. Honestly.

The below from Rich Sharpe suggests that there is an acceptance of this state of purgatory for a long time to come. Surely the best way to address the day to day costs is to increase revenue into the club. Obviously having a proper crack at promotion would be the best way, but increasing commercial activity would also help... another part of Waggott’s remit he’s completely failed to deliver on.

Let’s not forget his other crackpot scheme... ”Knock the Riverside down so we can build a hotel like we had at Coventry” He’s completely and utterly out of his depth.

Waggott also touched on a grant application for work at the BRIC. Plans were approved by BWDC for floodlit Astro pitches there back in 2015. This will obviously have to be a community facility, but I could see them trying to move the younger academy age groups up there... making a mockery of the all under one roof claim, jeapordising our cat 1 status, and failing to meet the terms on which any grant would be awarded.

Two quotes from Waggott just over a year ago at the last consultation meeting.

2027 when Rovers are training at the new Waggott and Mowbray inspired training ground... ”Steve, you said we’d be maintaining our Category 1 status? What happened? We are now Category 3?” ”We’ve done all that we can.”

For a start it’s got 10 full-size grass pitches, one of which is floodlit, an additional floodlit synthetic pitch, training areas for fitness work and goalkeepers, as well as an exact recreation of the pitch at Goodison Park.

Watched it. No fears allayed. Just talk of “state of the art”, “fully integrated”, “football models” etc. None of the very valid logistical issues addressed. He did say Cat 1 was vital, but it just doesn’t seem in any way plausible after basic scrutiny of the plans. a couple of points worth noting... - Rob Coar has clearly given him a brief history lesson on the Brockhall set up after the disingenuous and dismissive comments last weekend. - He mentioned similar projects he’d been involved in at other clubs... not sure I’d be celebrating my track record if it read like his. - Don’t worry Brockhall residents, there will be a community centre that can also be used as a health and wellness facility... possibly providing the services offered by 21st Solutions LTD eh Steve? Propaganda piece.

Interesting to see the Fans Forum have repeatedly brought up the possibility of having a consultation meeting. We are well overdue one, and the club were behind before the pandemic. Presumably the EFL requirements have been relaxed somewhat, however, there would obviously be appetite for a consultation at the present time. Perhaps a meeting using zoom or teams etc would allow the owners to attend too, as owner engagement is the primary reason for these meetings. Usually they reel out Mowbray to regale us with tales of his youth to eat into 60% of the allotted time. Might not have the usual pacifying effect at the moment.

Some interesting bits about ACVs as well.

https://roversradio.airtime.pro/#

Mine too.

This is good to hear. Probably the best hope we have of it not going ahead.