[Archived] Rovers Might Have Been Sold?

[mogster]

well there is help available for him, i wonder if there is any straight jackets left at queens park hospital....oops sorry showing my age now.....The Royal Blackburn Hospital

Yes, if you remember Queens Park Hospital you must be nearly 8 years old!!

[BPF]

Has anyone ever met him at Ewood?

We've all seen him at Ewood Park.....

Vinjay = Paul Ince

[Paul Mellelieu]

Disagree. They are moronic low lifes but to be honest our IndoPak community does have much more affinity with Man Utd... and don't tell me that they dont have moronic fans.

I can feel another threat coming to spend matchday on the golf course.

[SAS]

Having read the LET article I`m very disappointed to see Salim Mulla commenting. This guy comes across to me as a racist. All he does is beat the west down. He is constantly writing letters to the LET about Israel and Afghanistan. Its a local paper ffs.

And to top it off, He has never ever mentioned football until now.

Why should it take an Indian owner to get asian people to go ewood. Surely people go ewood to watch football not because of who the owner is....

[ewoodpo]

Having read the LET article I`m very disappointed to see Salim Mulla commenting. This guy comes across to me as a racist. All he does is beat the west down. He is constantly writing letters to the LET about Israel and Afghanistan. Its a local paper ffs.

And to top it off, He has never ever mentioned football until now.

Why should it take an Indian owner to get asian people to go ewood. Surely people go ewood to watch football not because of who the owner is....

To be fair to to Salim Mulla I have seen him at Ewood on a regular basis. I don't know if he is a season ticket holder but he does attend games .

[Bobby G]

I dont think it should matter where the fans are from, what religion they have, what color their skin is.

Luckily for us on this board, we have a melting pot of fans, far and wide away from each other.

[Ewood Spark]

Why should it take an Indian owner to get asian people to go ewood. Surely people go ewood to watch football not because of who the owner is....

Most of us became Rovers fans because our fathers were Rovers fans, as were their fathers before them. The asian community has not been here long enough for this to happen ... I'm sure it will start ... but the club needs to kick-start and nurture it. As potential support goes, the asian community is a blank canvass and is our major untapped potential of local support.

[thenodrog]

Most of us became Rovers fans because our fathers were Rovers fans, as were their fathers before them. The asian community has not been here long enough for this to happen ...

Not sure about that cos lots appear to have taken to Man Utd without any parental guidance ES.

[imy9]

Not sure about that cos lots appear to have taken to Man Utd without any parental guidance ES.

That's probably because when you have no link to a team then most will go with the biggest or most successful team- Man Utd in our case. Having an Asian owner may bring the asian community into Ewood, likewise if we had a Pole in charge then I'd expext a Polish following.

[47er]

Not sure about that cos lots appear to have taken to Man Utd without any parental guidance ES.

There are plenty of Blackburn people, born and bred, who support Manure and always has been. This is not a racial phenomenon.

[bonerdude]

Yes, if you remember Queens Park Hospital you must be nearly 8 years old!!

a lot older than that buddy, wish i was eight again-- no mortgage, kids naggin, wife naggin ect, ect.........

[1864roverite]

The kids only wear the united shirts around becuase of the tv influence. Manure are not just accessible on sky they can be watched on all sorts of tv channels with links to the Asian continent. I am certain that would change in Rovers favour IF we were taken over by The Shah group.

There is a massive untapped market in East Lancs, a member earlier touched on it. Rovers dont appear to have done enough to get more from The Asian community despite us having a healthy Asian following. It wont take much to have a direct influence on them and entice them through the turnstyles.

Once the first barrier is removed the rest tumble down easily. Even in litle old Leyland we see some our Asian neighbours wearing OUR colours as well as proudly wearing the England shirt, the same in Chorley yesterday. I am sure its the same in areas of East Lancs - the monopoly currently held by liverpoo and manure could be challenged by Rovers if the takeover goes ahead.

An example is the IPL team Mumbai Indians, they are the most watched team in India. Imagine if Rovers could achieve something along the lines of that with new owners, the rewards for that could be untold and would echo from Mjmbai all the way to Blackburn. It would generate massive interest amongst the local community witht he benefit being Rovers and incrased home support at Ewood.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Our main concern should be the credibility and financial clout of our prospective new owners.

The idea that we will suddenly attract a large Asian support is pie in the sky.Asian supporters will continue to support the most successful sides and I believe nothing will change much.The doors of Ewood are open to all races and creeds,we should not have to pander for the support of any one section of our town's population...that in itself could cause problems.

[roversinmyblood]

For all Rovers fans this news of a take over (by anyone outside Blackburn really) is a Heart or Head question.

In my Heart I'd prefer a new Uncle Jack, a Rovers fan, to materialize and pour in "Loads Of Money" like the blue skies days of the'90s. But in my Head I know there isn't one out there.

I want Rovers to stay in the premier league, to be comfortable in the table and if possible to mount a realistic challenge for a top 6 place or one of the cups, to enjoy a few more European adventures and make a bit of progress. I want to go down to Ewood feeling positive and excited and feeling we're going to win, not hoping we don't drop any points.

In my Head I know that if Rovers are to move on and make progress, we need new investment. IF these guys from India are genuine and I really hope the club check out their credentials and business plan. This could be a big opportunity for Rovers, in my head I hope it works out for the best.

And for all the silly people who bring the ethnicity aspect into it, just look what misery our American "cousins" have caused Liverpool and Man U. Give me a well backed and smart Indian business any time !

Brilliantly put!! You summarise my feelings exactly. I just hope that don't sell our souls (rovers that is) for £20m or so of transfer funds that are then wasted.

[Inta Beaver]

I'm all for any investment into the club, as it can only benefit the club with better players. Hopefully!

But my big concern would be trying to attract the large population of asians as supporters, if any person would like to come and watch Rovers then that is great, but I wouldn't want supporters there only because we are owned by someone from the same origin as themselves.

[trueblue]

I'm all for any investment into the club, as it can only benefit the club with better players. Hopefully!

But my big concern would be trying to attract the large population of asians as supporters, if any person would like to come and watch Rovers then that is great, but I wouldn't want supporters there only because we are owned by someone from the same origin as themselves.

No one is going to go watch a football match who doesn't like football, never mind who the flaming owners are!

[Inta Beaver]

No one is going to go watch a football match who doesn't like football, never mind who the flaming owners are!

[/quote

Obviously new supporters are going to have some interest in football! I wouldn't want fake fans sat at Ewood Park.

[Steve Moss]

I dont think it should matter where the fans are from, what religion they have, what color their skin is.

Luckily for us on this board, we have a melting pot of fans, far and wide away from each other.

You even allow American fans! And I am grateful.

Does ManU's appeal to the Asians have anything to do with Park (I think) being on the squad? There are some decent Asian players out there.

[AggyBlue]

There are plenty of Blackburn people, born and bred, who support Manure and always has been.

Who's told you that?

Maybe in your lifetime but don't presume the first hundred years of Rovers existence things were the same as they are now.

[Darwen Rover]

I live in Darwen and the amount of non Asian Liverpool supporters is shocking! Unless they just enjoy wearing the shirt!

Being of asian descent myself, the reason many asians support the most successful clubs is because they are 'generally' armchair supporters, coming to Ewood is a big step for alot of them; this is generated from a number of factors, predominately parents creating fear in their children who themselves grew up / experienced the crazy 80's/ early 90's.

I have had a season ticket with my two young boys now for the last 5yrs and I absolutely love coming to the rovers, my eldest son (7yr old) in particular is absolutely Rovers mad and I cant think of a better way to spend my Saturday afternoons...

However... My first experience of Rovers was when I went to watch Barnsley (think it was 1989) with a few friends from school (all non asian by the way) and on the bus home I was subjected to taunts of 'paki' from fellow rovers supporters, I was 11yrs old then if I remember correctly... My next experience was getting stuck in rovers traffic with my parents a few yrs later and a group of lads subjected my family to racial abuse.

It took my 20 yrs to come to Ewood, but for years (perhaps up until the age of 22), I would have been very nervous coming to watch Rovers.

Am not saying this is the sole reason but am sure that this is a major contributor to many of the asian population not having a culture of coming to watch live games. Subsequently they rely heavily on teh tele and the tele promote the most successful clubs ONLY; hence their affiliation with what they are being told.

The last thing I would say is that my experience in the last 5yrs has been outstanding, coming and watching rovers; I do believe society has changed for the better over the last 20 years. And Rovers is an inclusive club; dont get me wrong your always going to get the odd idiot (aka the Coyle chant).

I do think we (the club) need to make an effort with ALL youth to ensure our locals kids have an affiliation with Rovers and not THE TV!

[trueblue]

Well said DR, an excellent post there mate

[koi]

Yes great post DR. Hopefully your kids will not suffer the experiences you did and spread the word about Rovers.

[Hughesy]

Very true DR - I have many asian friends who claim to support Rovers, United or Liverpool - however none of them have ever attended a game - the sole reason seems to be fear of being abused or attacked, which is a shame.

I just hope we can continue to increase our support & I agree entirely about your point that parents need to get their kids into supporting the local team. Perhaps the club should ensure players attend schools more often to get an interest into those kids.

[philipl]

Far from being politically correct, rooting out the tiny minority who vent their problems with non-white faces is actually very good business sense for Rovers.

I am glad Darwen Rover is enjoying following the Rovers as much as any of us do.

[Darwen Rover]

On the whole I dont think any asian person has anything to worry about at the Rovers in this day and age. I proactively promote my asian friends to come and support the Rovers and more and more are coming to Ewood, slowly but surely.

With regards to the takeaway, irrespective of other attributes of Mr Shah, the PRIMARY attribute is that this man does not take backwards (ie into debt); if so I'm quite hap[py with us being a SMALL TOWN CLUB sitting MID TABLE with THE LOWEST PRICED TICKETS!!