[Archived] Rovers Takeover Thread

[ABBEY]

I have been a Rovers fan for 16 years (that is most of my adult life), was not born in Blackburn nor were any of my friends or family fans, but I have been to games and done "my bit" for the team that I love. Are you more or less passionate than me? I am a Muslim... and religion has nothing to do with my support for Rovers.

Now as mods have already said we should stick with the topic...

I will add that I cannot see us being taken over because ironically our success off the field will mean that the price of purchasing our club will be high and the new owners have to prove that they will invest more into the team.

1.didnt know it was a willy measuring contest.....16 years a rovers fan eh..wow ive been one 38 years ,all my life including childhood.Youve done your bit for the team have you,go on do tell how you have and i havent.I bet you have not been to cambridge and oxford for night matches or the isle of man for the lancs tourments,or promotion nights at bury or relegation to division three....go on do tell.

2.am i more or less passionate than you...come sit with us and id win .

3.your a muslim? well woppy doo.It has nothing to do with your support of rovers? why mention it then?

4.as ive told you before leave the modding to mods ,your not one so shut up.

[dave birch]

1.didnt know it was a willy measuring contest.....16 years a rovers fan eh..wow ive been one 38 years ,all my life including childhood.Youve done your bit for the team have you,go on do tell how you have and i havent.I bet you have not been to cambridge and oxford for night matches or the isle of man for the lancs tourments,or promotion nights at bury or relegation to division three....go on do tell.

2.am i more or less passionate than you...come sit with us and id win .

3.your a muslim? well woppy doo.It has nothing to do with your support of rovers? why mention it then?

4.as ive told you before leave the modding to mods ,your not one so shut up.

Abs, we are all Rovers supporters

Some are Catholic, some are Protestant, some are Muslim, some agnostic, some atheist.

Some like to drink bitter, some mild, some like non alcoholic drinks, some lager drinkers, some cider drinker*

Some get to matches, some don't

we are all Rovers supporters.

Never doubt their passion about football, particularly about Blackburn Rovers

*That better, Bob

[riverside returns]

Hi all, I would like to add to the debate and only in the following way. Well said IMY, you are a muslim of faith but a good rovers supporter, the former has little to do with the latter. It matters not what the colour of your skin or the faith you follow, we are of one, ONE ROVERS. Those who spout racist views I have little time for and quite rightly they should be ostracised.

I also think that the club is best sereved with it's present masters as the whole EPL thing will come tumbling down in the not too distant future and clubs like Rovers will be in a good position when that happens.

Bring on the revolution and lets get back to football being a level playing field with all clubs having a somewhat even chance of winning.

Please take the club off the market and let us not sell out to some fast buck no mark who will kill the ethos of the club.

BTW ABBEY, I too have spent many days and nights at little clubs like Mansfield, Chesterield, in the early to mid 70's, recall the Furphy years and Jonny Price, teddies at half time in the riverside.

[bob fleming]

Some like to drink bitter, some mild, some like non alcoholic drinks.

What about the lager and cider drinkers dave? You're bang out of order!

[riverside returns]

Well Bob, they are sure fire Rovers supporters so take no need to mention! haha

[jim mk2]

. Are you more or less passionate than me? I am a Muslim... and religion has nothing to do with my support for Rovers.

Good lad, and I hope you see plenty more of your mates down at Ewood in future.

As an aside, next time you move house could you go and live next to Enoch ? He's got Asians on one side and a good Muslim family on the other side might force him to leave town completely. We live in hope.

[Tris]

1.didnt know it was a willy measuring contest.....16 years a rovers fan eh..wow ive been one 38 years ,all my life {...} so shut up.

Good night shift Abbey?!

[47er]

And that is a major argument why I am against the club being sold at all.

Blackburn Rovers FC is FAR better off in the long run by remaining in the ownership and under the protection of Jack's will than it could ever be by being sold on. The chances of finding another Jack Walker are so remote that, in comparison, the odds of any one individual wiining the jackpot on the National Lottery are much better.

ANY other kind of buyer has to be a far worse risk than staying with the Walker Trust.

Fife-------------can't see your logic. Its not a matter of choice,the Walker family want to sell and are actively seeking a buyer. What's the point of arguing that we should stick with them?

[philipl]

I think we ought to step back and recognise that circumstances change but the one thing that remains unchanging is the terms of the settlement under which places Blackburn Rovers within the Walker Trust. The Trustees through the Chairman have said that they are only looking for a buyer who would put Blackburn Rovers in a better position than the club would be in the ownership of the Trust.

Just as the monetary Settlement back in 1999/2000 was anticipated to provide for Rovers being a competitive club in the Premier League for the foreseeable future but the foreseeable future in 2000 did not encapsulate an 8 times increase in Sky money by 2007, so the circumstances which caused the Trustees to put the club on the market two years ago have also dramatically changed and the Trustees have to react whilst remaining true to the Trust Settlement Jack Walker put in place:

- the majority of recent new ownerships in the Premier League have not been successful, nor have they been able to operate the clubs they have bought as smoothly as the WT seems to be achieving at Ewood. The Walker Trust are business people as well as lawyers and looking at what has/is happening at West Ham, Pompey, Newcastle, Liverpool, Man U and Thaksin City must mean the hurdle for buying Rovers has inevitably gone up a notch,

- the only potential buyers for Rovers have all been under-capitalised and not had anything like the amount of cash behind them that the buyers who have messed up at other clubs have had,

- had Sparky stayed, the club would undoubtedly have spent all its budget this summer. In the event, the Rovers now probably has zero overdraft rather than the £15m overdraft it was planning and the wage bill is probably smaller than budgeted as well,

- the upshot is the Rovers look like a viable stand-alone operation for the first time in the club's history and if nothing changes during 2008/9 season could quite easily produce a trading (excluding transfers) surplus of £10m with a top half finish and a decent cup run,

- there are enough good footballers in the world and insufficient competition for them that even a Premier League pauper like the Rovers is financially competitive on a global basis for signing a squad full of players good enough to keep the club in the top half of the Premier League,

- there is also a subtle shift probably in the perception of armagedon aka relegation. When the Walker Trust put the Rovers on the market, relegation spelt the need to find £40m (what it cost Jack in 1999) which the Trustees knew full well could not be forthcoming. If Rovers go down in 2008/9, the outlook would be dramatically different:

1) The parachute payment is now five times bigger

2) The Rovers' current cost base relative to the parachute plus having a bit stashed away from the current season (not £10m because of the loss of prize money) would make the transition painful but manageable as opposed to apocalyptic two years ago

3) Early days but looking where Birmingham and Reading are points towards an immediate bounce back being more likely than used to be the case for relegated Prem clubs

Putting all these factors together, the compelling logic for a NEED to sell which was perceived by the Trust two years ago no longer exists.

I am sure that is why John Williams in his statement just before the season started said that the Trust is now looking either to sell the business or sell shares (in other words would issue new shares to someone making a big cash injection into the Rovers and share ownership) and that shift in position has been validated by what has happened over the opening 6 weeks of the new season.

[MCMC1875]

Imagine the shirts for the 'Lancashire Utd' if the teams you mentioned joined up. We'd have to have claret, blue, white and orange stripes or quarters. Having said that we'd win a few more games, as the opposition would want to vomit because of the shirts. In theory it would be a good idea, but in practice, many of the Rovers/Burnley/Blackpool/Preston fans would not be interested as it is a team that is composed of the remains of them and their rivals. You have a clear sense of logic, one that spurs on mergers and so on in the private sector, but football has that irrational angle business doesn't. I doubt HSBC has a fanbase, or B&Q have a supporters branch in Singapore.

I think I know the answer to this, but where would Lancashire Utd play? In a new stadium?

Lancashire?

[Billy Castell]

Well, obviously, but which current team's stadium? I don't think you can oerate by playing full games in different stadiums as they do in county cricket.

[ABBEY]

Abs, we are all Rovers supporters

Some are Catholic, some are Protestant, some are Muslim, some agnostic, some atheist.

Some like to drink bitter, some mild, some like non alcoholic drinks, some lager drinkers, some cider drinker*

Some get to matches, some don't

we are all Rovers supporters.

Never doubt their passion about football, particularly about Blackburn Rovers

*That better, Bob

dave think you missed my point mate.I know all this what I meant was we are rovers fans its in our blood its a way of life and to me relegeon has NO place in football and if a muslim /jew or a burnley fan takes over the "new " fans wouldnt be true rovers as in deep felt loyalty they would be novelty and once the honeymoon is over theyd be gone.I dont doubt their passion of fans ,just "fly by nightbandwagoners". The remarks were made to imy who was questioning my passion.

Hi all, I would like to add to the debate and only in the following way. Well said IMY, you are a muslim of faith but a good rovers supporter, the former has little to do with the latter. It matters not what the colour of your skin or the faith you follow, we are of one, ONE ROVERS. Those who spout racist views I have little time for and quite rightly they should be ostracised.

I also think that the club is best sereved with it's present masters as the whole EPL thing will come tumbling down in the not too distant future and clubs like Rovers will be in a good position when that happens.

Bring on the revolution and lets get back to football being a level playing field with all clubs having a somewhat even chance of winning.

Please take the club off the market and let us not sell out to some fast buck no mark who will kill the ethos of the club.

BTW ABBEY, I too have spent many days and nights at little clubs like Mansfield, Chesterield, in the early to mid 70's, recall the Furphy years and Jonny Price, teddies at half time in the riverside.

well said and I wasnt having a pop at anyone but imy as i said he was questioning me because hes been a fan for "mostof his adult life" and reckons hes more passionate than me.

Good night shift Abbey?!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,wet thru ,cold,wet ,###### up to the eyeballs and a knob driving about 80mph on narrow country roads drove towrds me and papped himself and drove into a hedge/wall and when i stopped to check he drove off .Got home 7.30 and couldnt sleep....hahahaaha

great shift.

[Bennisfromheaven]

Cant wait until i open this thread & there is actually some news to talk about!!!

[gumboots]

Agreed. there's no news about us anywhere and even the pro/anti Ince debate has gone quiet for the moment.

[thenodrog]

Good lad, and I hope you see plenty more of your mates down at Ewood in future.

As an aside, next time you move house could you go and live next to Enoch ? He's got Asians on one side and a good Muslim family on the other side might force him to leave town completely. We live in hope.

I understood you to have already left town Victor. I must say I'm rather suprised to find that you pay your council tax to BwD. You do don't you?

[thenodrog]

Hi all, I would like to add to the debate and only in the following way. Well said IMY, you are a muslim of faith but a good rovers supporter, the former has little to do with the latter. It matters not what the colour of your skin or the faith you follow, we are of one, ONE ROVERS. Those who spout racist views I have little time for and quite rightly they should be ostracised.

Why are you metioning skin colour and applying the term 'racist' when your statement is about religion? Let me help cos it's so easy to be misunderstood..... I think the word 'racist' would be more accurate and much better replaced with the word 'intolerant'

btw your slip is showing a little 'but' should be 'and'. Be careful it's so very easy to cause offence rr.

[imy9]

ABBEy-

This was your initial post (which I responded too)

"ITS A PART OF YOU FROM BIRTH AT A VERY EARLY AGE.ITS NOT ABOUT SUPPORTING A TEAM BECAUSE OF BIBLE,KORAN BASHERS"

As stated previously I have supported Rovers for 16 years, not from birth, having had no one in my family telling me to support them, so my question was are you a better supporter of the club because you have? Did you get that because you responded in a very silly manner. As stated Rovers and my religion are seperate.

"am i more or less passionate than you...come sit with us and id win" WILLY CONTEST YOU SAID

"your a muslim? well woppy doo.It has nothing to do with your support of rovers? why mention it then?"

AS YOUR TITLE WAS ABOUT NOT WANTING A MUSLIM OWNER AND HOW RELIGION CANNOT BE MIXED WITH FOOTBALL, I SHOWED YOU HOW YOU CAN BE BOTH, IS THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND?

"as ive told you before leave the modding to mods ,your not one so shut up."

YOU ARE LIKE A TEENAGER, THE THREAD IS ABOUT TAKEOVER NEWS, I'M TRYING TO READ ABOUT ANYTHING NEW AND THERE IS ABBEY DISCUSSING THE QUALITIES A MUSLIM OWNER, RELEVANCE TO THE THREAD? YOU'RE A MIND READER...

Finally I dont care who takes over the club as long as they have the clubs interests at heart and want to move us forward.

[ABBEY]

and the winner of the "roundthehousespoliticiananswerwithwaffle" goes to...............

ok my last remarks becuse frankly imy your boring me.

1.you say religeon and football dont mix? you say "my title" says muslims and football are seperate then you say how you can do both.Make your mind up they either do or they dont.

2.willy contest...it was you who said about being more passionate.....roll eyes smiley doh.

3."AND THERS ABBEY DISCUSSING MUSLIM OWNERS AND NO NEWS ON THE TAKEOVER"....Teenager ? hahaha well thought out. Go on show us what your input on this thread is.

4.you want best for the club? well good for you its the least id expect from a rover......theres one or two on this thread who dont care who buys us or where the money comes from.

5.and dont have a pop at my late dad for "telling " me to become a rover from childhood ,it doesnt make you any better you know because you "chose"yourself 16 years ago.who chose your relegeon for you? my folks had a hand in mine you know.

[imy9]

and the winner of the "roundthehousespoliticiananswerwithwaffle" goes to...............

ok my last remarks becuse frankly imy your boring me.

1.you say religeon and football dont mix? you say "my title" says muslims and football are seperate then you say how you can do both.Make your mind up they either do or they dont.

2.willy contest...it was you who said about being more passionate.....roll eyes smiley doh.

3."AND THERS ABBEY DISCUSSING MUSLIM OWNERS AND NO NEWS ON THE TAKEOVER"....Teenager ? hahaha well thought out. Go on show us what your input on this thread is.

4.you want best for the club? well good for you its the least id expect from a rover......theres one or two on this thread who dont care who buys us or where the money comes from.

5.and dont have a pop at my late dad for "telling " me to become a rover from childhood ,it doesnt make you any better you know because you "chose"yourself 16 years ago.who chose your relegeon for you? my folks had a hand in mine you know.

Frankly trying to decifer what you are writing is difficult enough Abbey, let alone trying to understand your points (are there any). I am not having "pops" as you call them at anyone. I actually said religion and football are seperate in my life but you can be both (is that difficult to understand?)

"it was you who said about being more passionate" Try reading things, please find me the section where I have said that I am more passionate

I dont think I'm better than anyone else, what does : "and dont have a pop at my late dad for "telling " me to become a rover from childhood" mean? I simply said it makes no difference if you were born a Rover or became a Rovers fan 15 years ago, the point is do you care for the club and support it? You obviously feel that you are a better fan because you were born one- what nonsense.

My input on these threads Abbey is neither more or less than anyone else because we are equals, but shouting at people, insulting them and writing like a 6 year old does not make you a better fan, does it? I will stop now as I have not got a single idea as to the point that you are trying to make.

[ABBEY]

your point is?

[imy9]

Point was made in post 1327.

Thanks for the advice Fife,

[gumboots]

your point is?

Exactly the same as mine was when you tried telling me I couldn't choose to become a Rovers fan after years of supporting Boro. That it doesn't matter how you get to be a Rovers fan, whether you were born and brought up in a Rovers supporting household or whether the decision to support rovers was made much later in life; it doesn't matter what you do or what faith you follow,; it doesn't matter whether you chose to follow Rovers because you like their blue and white kit or because you are old enough to remember the last time rovers won the FA cup; whether you remember standing on the old ground or whatever. That's all irrelevant. What does matter is that you care about this club and that you are able to respect fans who are different from you because of age, gender, religious faith or lack of it, or any other differentiating factor. You may not always agree with their opinion. You may not like certain things about their lives but as Rovers fans they deserve to be treated as important members of our club and their opinions deserve to be listened to, agreed with or argued against without resorting to a slanging match or a puerile "mine's bigger than yours".

[Fife Rover]

Exactly the same as mine was when you tried telling me I couldn't choose to become a Rovers fan after years of supporting Boro. That it doesn't matter how you get to be a Rovers fan, whether you were born and brought up in a Rovers supporting household or whether the decision to support rovers was made much later in life; it doesn't matter what you do or what faith you follow,; it doesn't matter whether you chose to follow Rovers because you like their blue and white kit or because you are old enough to remember the last time rovers won the FA cup; whether you remember standing on the old ground or whatever. That's all irrelevant. What does matter is that you care about this club and that you are able to respect fans who are different from you because of age, gender, religious faith or lack of it, or any other differentiating factor. You may not always agree with their opinion. You may not like certain things about their lives but as Rovers fans they deserve to be treated as important members of our club and their opinions deserve to be listened to, agreed with or argued against without resorting to a slanging match or a puerile "mine's bigger than yours".

Very well said Gumboots.....and thanks for saving me trouble as I was just about to say something very similar.

[blue phil]

Very unkind about our Enoch.

True, but unkind.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery .

I'm not sure whether your plagiarism is an indication of admiration .......or if you're beginning to hurt a little . Could be that hook in your mouth I suppose .....

Either way carry on reading and repying to my posts , jim

[roversmum]

I'm with Fife and Gumboots on this one. We weren't born Rovers or even in the area but Mr R and I are Rovers through and through and always will be.