[Archived] Rovers Sold ??

[American Rover12]

Hughes needs money. We're fast approaching the time when we need replacements for Savage, Tugay and Friedel; we could hope that he could pull off some miracles, but it's unlikely. Even if we say he can pull off Benni style deals, it is probably going to be £8-10 million for the bunch, minimum, and I can't see that happening really. We don't need to say to him "go and spend 25 million", but it would be nice to say to him "the money is there if you need it" and go and find the players you think we need.

Extremely well put, I don't think I could agree more.

[bluebruce]

Hughes needs money. We're fast approaching the time when we need replacements for Savage, Tugay and Friedel; we could hope that he could pull off some miracles, but it's unlikely. Even if we say he can pull off Benni style deals, it is probably going to be £8-10 million for the bunch, minimum, and I can't see that happening really. We don't need to say to him "go and spend 25 million", but it would be nice to say to him "the money is there if you need it" and go and find the players you think we need.

Fair enough. All three won't need replacing at the same time, but well put nonetheless.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Fair enough. All three won't need replacing at the same time, but well put nonetheless.

If we are to keep progressing, ie getting better, I would expect all three to have their replacements at the club within the next 12 months. Waiting until they are plainly knackered will be too late.

I think there is also now a pressing issue in that our cadre of forwards and wingers are light years ahead of 2 years ago, whereas central midfield is, at best, parity if not gone backwards. Good players want to be surrounded by equally good players to give them the kind of service that gives them the chance to shine.

[Fife Rover]

I agree that all the three mentioned are going to need replacing fairly soon, but as far as Brad 's replacement is concerned we may already have him in the keepers that are presently bench warmers or the youngster we signed a few weeks back. Surely these guys need a chance to show what they are about before we start trawling around for a £6 to 8m keeper.

[John]

Interesting debate here on what Hughes should/could do with more money etc.

Fact is, last January Hughes publicly said we NEEDED serious investment in the club, in order for him to take us up a level.

[Jonas]

I agree that all the three mentioned are going to need replacing fairly soon, but as far as Brad 's replacement is concerned we may already have him in the keepers that are presently bench warmers or the youngster we signed a few weeks back. Surely these guys need a chance to show what they are about before we start trawling around for a £6 to 8m keeper.

Didn't one of those keepers sub for Brad last season and save like 2 PKs?

[Eddie]

Brown came on and saved a penalty.

[Eddie]

If we are to keep progressing, ie getting better, I would expect all three to have their replacements at the club within the next 12 months. Waiting until they are plainly knackered will be too late.

Tugay's been knackered for about 3 years...

[DanLad]

Tugay's been knackered for about 3 years...

Erm, Tugay's last three years have been his best IMO...

I think he was starting to look distinctly portly before Hughes came in. His touch is better, too. Again IMHO.

[Eddie]

Tugay has played some great stuff, but only when well rested and in small spurts. He hasn't been able to play a long run of games for a couple of seasons.

[Damage]

How sad that even the prospespt of money is enough to make people forget about thwe source or consequences!

What a fine world we ligve in!

I wouldnt mind but I have 30 years investment in this club and most of you have about 300 posts!!

Buy a ST and get your butt down to EP and I might respect your yearning for the champs league!! Otherwise pls leave us alone.

[daren]

That's a strange comment considering we're on the 89th page of a fairly lively discussion about all that. Sorry if we don't all live up to your ideal of a Rovers fan. How about you belt on your overcoat and wave your rattler, then, in protest at a takeover.

If you have an inside line on the source of the cash, or indeed a crystal ball that will tell us what the consequences are, I'd be delighted to know. Other than that I'll stick to my current thinking on the matter, which is that if the trust, the board and Rothschilds are happy with the purchasers, then I'll accept it for the moment (especially as not having millions of pounds, I don't have any choice in the matter).

Other than that, put a consortium of Rovers fans together, raise the cash, and return it to a Barcelona style members owned club. This is the ideal situation for me, but I don't see it happening. Dire warnings of doom if our current situation changes are just Yorkshire-like "change is not good". Change is coming, either this chap buys or not, if not, then everyone knows rather publicly how much Rovers is worth and what kind of price they'll have to pay. It'll have a knock on effect.

[Damage]

Daren, I think if you read some previous pages you might find that I have already made my thoughts obvious!

Thanks for the northern steroetype!

I can tell that you have a ST and visit ewood regularluy!

I know there are many people on this MB who do not have a ST but are valuable supporters to BRFC but pls do not think that your opinion should even have 5% of the wieght of a 15year ST holder and 30year supporter.

I am sick of the armchairs on here influnecing debate! What input have you made to the club!?

Until you have serious committment do not even bother me with your opinions. In the past, "supporters" financial committment/input to the club was something of a laughing matter but now we are on the brink of takeover by "investors" it is only right that people who have more financial input to the club have the louder voice!

If Lee wants to PM me I will gladly give him my patron number and he can verify my committment to the club - 15 years ST plus kids for 5 years and now extra kid plus merchandise. I dont want to offend but I am sick of nouveau armchairs telling me how MY club should be run!

I am also sending this message to current and prospective owners that I am against and will not support any takeover by anybody who seeks to use BRFC as a vehicle for profit! FULL STOP!

BRFC IS A FOOTBALL CLUB FOR BLACKBURN! IT SHOULD STAY THAT WAY!

[Paul]

I agree that all the three mentioned are going to need replacing fairly soon, but as far as Brad 's replacement is concerned we may already have him in the keepers that are presently bench warmers or the youngster we signed a few weeks back. Surely these guys need a chance to show what they are about before we start trawling around for a £6 to 8m keeper.

We have five keepers, including Brad, in the first team squad. I'd agree you would expect one of them to be considered a strong possibility to replace Friedel. If not why are they all here?

[dave birch]

Damage, I can understand your feelings, but, realistically, what is the alternative?

The Trust deed that runs the Rovers will have to come to an end at some stage, so, the club will have to be sold to some entity or other. At present there's no new Uncle Jack waiting in the wings ready to spread their largesse on the Rovers.

Whilst I have doubts about the motives for this purchase, I see no alternative. We either go with it or gradually decline through lack of investment.

I can only hope that there's something in the trust deed that says certain obligations must be agreed to by the purchasers before the sale goes ahead.

[otto man]

but pls do not think that your opinion should even have 5% of the wieght of a 15year ST holder and 30year supporter.

BRFC IS A FOOTBALL CLUB FOR BLACKBURN! IT SHOULD STAY THAT WAY!

Well I've supported them for 36 years(been going regularly since I was 8) so that being the case my opinion is more valid than yours? Stupid thing to say! You do NOT hold a monopoly on opinions or love for your club. As your line above says; Brfc is a club for the town, NOT just a selected few.

[Eddie]

Daren, I think if you read some previous pages you might find that I have already made my thoughts obvious!

Thanks for the northern steroetype!

I can tell that you have a ST and visit ewood regularluy!

I know there are many people on this MB who do not have a ST but are valuable supporters to BRFC but pls do not think that your opinion should even have 5% of the wieght of a 15year ST holder and 30year supporter.

I am sick of the armchairs on here influnecing debate! What input have you made to the club!?

Until you have serious committment do not even bother me with your opinions. In the past, "supporters" financial committment/input to the club was something of a laughing matter but now we are on the brink of takeover by "investors" it is only right that people who have more financial input to the club have the louder voice!

If Lee wants to PM me I will gladly give him my patron number and he can verify my committment to the club - 15 years ST plus kids for 5 years and now extra kid plus merchandise. I dont want to offend but I am sick of nouveau armchairs telling me how MY club should be

Any genuine Rovers fan has as much of a right to have an opinion as any other, regardless of whether he's had a season ticket for 50 years or never had one. It's pretty much certain that anyone regularly on this website really cares about the club, if not they wouldn't bother, and that is all that really matters in the end. We all want the best for Blackburn Rovers, personally I'm of the opinion that a change is needed if we want to survive or progress (which is what I want to see) and I am fully in support of the the club seriously considering offers and going ahead with a sale if they honestly believe that it is in the best interest of the club (and we will all have to trust them on that). I think the vast majority of fans, season ticket holders included, probably believe something along the same lines.

[CAPT KAYOS]

opinion that a change is needed if we want to survive or progress (

This to me is the worrying factor Eddie which I feel alot of fans are getting caught up in.

I think I can understand where Damage is coming from reading between the lines.

Its quite obvious that 'change' is required but change for what?

As I have posted before, the way I see football going at the moment is not what I consider to be the best for the game itself or the fans - remember this is only my opinion and I am not so sure I really want BRFC to be part of it, or be a supporter of it by following the Rovers.

[Eddie]

In many ways we have been a part of it for a long time, since Jack Walker took over. We showed people that with money almost anything is possible. It takes a good manager and a lot of effort, but I'm sure it is something that every new owner has looked at when buying a team in the Premiership. We can't really fight the change now, every Premiership club is being bought and they are going to have spending capabilities three or four times what we can put together and in the long-run that means our position in the premiership is in doubt. Now maybe we can stay in it and fight bravely to midtable mediocrity, which I suppose would be nice because it will be such an achievement, but I want more. Now I don't want to sell-out to just anyone, but if the person seems to have the best interest of the club at heart then why should we stop them? We won't know if there is another Jack Walker until we give someone the chance to own the club, which is a huge risk, but it could work out well again.

Is all of this bad for football in the long-run? Probably. I'd rather see no clubs being sold and everything just staying as it is, but that isn't happening. Like any business we have to move with the times, our current set-up, at least in my opinion, won't be able to sustain Premiership football for the future, so we have to look at changing it. It is best to start looking for that when we are in a relatively strong position and not in need of selling. If this current offer is the right one then great, if not then we will be able to survive as we are, but not forever.

[Paul]

In many ways we have been a part of it for a long time, since Jack Walker took over. We showed people that with money almost anything is possible. It takes a good manager and a lot of effort, but I'm sure it is something that every new owner has looked at when buying a team in the Premiership.

Eddie, I don't feel you can compare the two situations. Jack bought Rovers for love, he invested in our dreams for his, and our, love of the club. Nobody knows anything about Dan Williams, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but there is one major concern for Rovers and other clubs. What is the motivation behind these investments? What will happen if it all goes pear shaped? No investor in a PL club has given a straight answer, they all believe with money they can break into the Champions League......and we all know it can't happen.

We can't really fight the change now,

15 months ago none of us would have predicted a 25% reduction in ST prices and £15 for a walk on. If the fans keep saying it long enough a few, and we must be very grateful to John Williams, will listen. If fans continue to voice their concerns it's possible, just possible, Dan Williams or whoever will come to realise our need to know what the future holds for Blackburn Rovers. If he has the right story, and demonstrates this, I'm sure the doubters will be won over. We do our club and ourselves no favours by meekly accepting, without question, what others feel is goo for Rovers.

[den]

We do our club and ourselves no favours by meekly accepting, without question, what others feel is goo for Rovers.

You might be right there Paul.

[Paul]

[dave birch]

What is the motivation behind these investments? What will happen if it all goes pear shaped? No investor in a PL club has given a straight answer, they all believe with money they can break into the Champions League......and we all know it can't happen.

I share the same concerns, but feel that, at least to maintain the status quo, the Rovers have to have the extra investment.

We have yet to see the failure of a foreign owned club (at least I can't think of one in the PL). When it happens we may well see a few walking away. Another factor that could affect things is a reduction in the number of PL teams allowed into the Champions League. If that is reduced by one or even two, then it could cause a few rethinks about investment.

At the moment, I can't see an alternative, unfortunately.

[broadsword]

What's this vague "change" that people are speaking about?

[roversinmyblood]

I don't think that we should under estimate the effect the lack of money to spend must be having on Mark Hughes. He is always described as VERY ambitious and the pittance that he has had to spend since he has been with us must frustrate him. We must be one of the lowest spenders in the premiership over the last few years. He has done amazingly well with the little he has had, but it is difficult to keep pulling rabbits out of hats all the time. He wants to take us to the next level and if we can't help him with his ambitions then we run the very real risk of him going to another club - just look at Bolton and Sam Allardyce.

Mark Hughes and John Williams will use whatever money we get very wisely I am sure. If he gets the funds and gets us to the next level and then is poached by one of the top four clubs then at least we would be in really good shape to carry on rather than have some dipstick like Souness blow all the money on wasters.

If we don't try to progress we will run the risk of relegation which is a fate not worth contemplating!!