But if you think Accie Stanley are Real Madrid..................................................

This league is wide open. A huge test of Venky's ambition and nous. Two, maybe three, very shrewd signings might, just might get us back into the PL providing our manager doesn't bottle it and revert to type. Bigger tests to come. Think Wycombe will be the whipping boys for all teams and Derby are just a shambles. Having said that, you can only beat the opposition in front of you and 5-0 and 4-0 wins are pretty convincing. This may well be the season which gives Venky's the opportunity (through promotion) to recoup big parts of their losses. Waggott and Mowbray MUST get their pitch to them right.

Not many in it!

No it doesn't. IMO, Waggott is not even average, in fact I think he is very, very poor. In which case, his salary is hugely OTT. Tell me what value you think he has added to Rovers?

Tell me what you think Waggott's key strategic objectives and KPI's are? Personally, I'm struggling to think of anything he has delivered on other than handing Mowbray and some of the players ridiculous contracts which have cost us dearly. I would wager substantially that Waggott's base salary is very close to £300k which, IMO and professional experience, is hugely OTT for the organisation he heads up as CEO.

The answer is not no - are you unable to read and understand? I will not reveal any names of people I've dealt with on a professional basis.

Think you are way off the mark. You would be surprised at relative salary levels (to Waggott's) for CEO's in 'large' companies and Rovers would not fall into that category. The big bucks come in terms of what is known as 'executive compensation' comprising share options (typically 3 to 5 times salary levels), long term incentive plans (typically shares given to CEO's if their companies perform and meet their KPI's over a number of years - 1 to 2 times salary levels) and annual bonus (again performance related and typically 50% to 100% of base salary). IMO, based on experience, Waggott's base salary is at least twice as much as it needs to be. If I was calling the shots, he would be heavily incentivised to deliver on strategic objectives. For perspective, our PM runs the UK and his salary is about £150k. Waggott, IMO, is ridiculously overpaid.

I've had dealings across football clubs (and you would be surprised about some of the people I've come across / dealt with), rugby clubs (both codes) and cricket clubs. I can tell you I've found Executive Directors / Senior Managers (across the four sports) to have a very wide range of competence and nothing surprises me at all.

Indeed! So simple and effective. Well done PNE.

The accounts show we have four directors: Waggott, Cheston, Babu and Coar. Three of these are 'executive' directors with, presumably, Coar the non executive director. The cost of benefits for the three 'executive' directors in the accounts to June 2019 was a staggering £570,158 with the highest director costing £319,329 (which can only be Waggott). So these three (not so very wise men, IMO) earn more than the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary put together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IMO, it is a scandalous waste of money on three individuals presiding over the decline of a once great football club. As for Mowbray, he signed a new three and a half yeat contract in Nov. 2018 and if that isn't a long contract then I've been missing the point of my 40+ years in practice, business and commerce. He should have been given a 12 month rolling contract with strong rewards for getting us back to the PL because, in reality, that's the bottom line and all that feckin matters.

Waggott and Mowbray should have a basic salary with big incentives for results - the biggest one to get us to the PL. It is a results driven business and Waggott collects his £300k pa (according to the accounts - that's the salary of the highest paid director) irrespective, IMO, of how he performs and he's, IMO, nowhere near cutting the mustard. Same, IMO, with Mowbray, big salary, long contract, no pressure. Waggott and Mowbray, IMO, are on 'Easy Street' and need a feckin rocket up their arse - preferably one that takes them away from Ewood Park.

Waggott: “We have reached a precarious point in the club’s history and, right now, every penny counts, as we try to keep moving forward against a backdrop of uncertainty and challenging circumstances.” Think this thread needs closing as regards incomings - autumn sales are on.

Not at all. You offered up missing out narrowly on Harrison Reed as one of the reasons for Rovers failing to get promotion. Think you know there was virtually no chance that Reed would be back at Ewood for the reasons stated in my post. IMO, Mowbray's management of Reed whilst he was here was appalling and because of that, we very likely missed out on an excellent player at Championship level who showed his worth at Fulham last season.

IMO, that was never going to happen and pure window dressing. If Mowbray really wanted him then surely he would have made his move when the window first opened and not left it until the window was virtually shut! I also very much doubt Reed would have touched us with the proverbial sh1tty stick - who the hell wants to be told to learn their trade from Evans and Smallwood and played out of position nearly every game.

Seen some bad ones, average ones and good ones in my time. Off the top of my head, the following gave me the shivers: Barton, Ramsbottom, Butcher, Brown, Dickins, Fettis, Enkelman, Kean, Steele, Leutwiler and Walton. Stand up for Sir Roger, Arnold, Gennoe, Flowers, Friedel and even Paul Robinson.

As I do a whole range of ......for Dummies including Marketing, Management, Psychology etc. Excellent guides for staff members!

Sorry if you seem to struggle to understand simple statements. I said savings of that magnitude through wage savings and net transfer funds. Forward me your email address and I'll send you an electronic version of 'Finance for Dummies'.

Out: Tosin, Downing, Graham, Walton, Samuel, Smallwood, Leutwiler and Hart. Factor in employers' NI and that's some £6million off the wage bill for a start. Net off Kaminski and Ayala and you will be a few £million in pocket.

Hasn't the wage bill been slashed? The window is still open for departures!

I'm not that feckin old! Look, if I hear something I post it along with names like Michel the French goalie (posted weeks ago and then Sharpe in LT mentioned) and Juklerod (posted yesterday). I think Rovers' transfer 'policy'- if you can call it that- is all over the place and I very much doubt even Mowbray knows what will happen when he walks into 'the building' each day. IMO, there will be one 'big' departure before the window closes, mainly to help the cash position and partially to facilitate a couple or so of permanent signings.

Still think our player trading strategy is made up as we go along. Think messaging is mixed. Hearing WBA fancy Armstrong - they are a yo yo club and if they go straight back down, would see Arma as the man to fire them straight back.

I understand Juklerod (plays down the left side in defence or midfield) who plies his trade in Belgium has been tracked. Type of flexibility that Mowbray likes.

IMO, will be gone by the time the window closes.

So true. I remember the likes of Geoff Hutt, Andy Burgin, Chris Sulley etc - left backs bought with washers and ten times better than Bell. Just where the feck do our scouts look!?!?

Has there been an official update? Heard last night he's out until the new year - huge blow if correct.