[Archived] Rovers Takeover

[Kelbo]

I was much happier watching Rovers as a lower league club, seeing players work hard and try to play proper football.

For me the Premiership now is not a good watch at all, one or two teams are good on the eye, the rest is not good.

Unfortunately, money is the B all and end all, so sad what has happened to our game.

[rovgers]

I know what you mean, on a Saturday night I've starting watching the last 5 min of motd when we're on and prefer the football league show.

[nicko]

There are some hysterics around here.

Keep this real.

The money would be from the VH Group.

The partnership and football knowledge is from Kentaro.

Kentaro are a very big football organisation whose guys have a massive amount of clients.

The 'agency feeder club' is some kind of bizarre smear. What it would mean is that good players from that camp would be pointed towards Rovers.

The chances are - down the line - that this could mean a change in playing style.

Is that so hard to take in?

Unless you have an agenda against this mob for some reason?

I hadn't even heard of them until a few days ago, but went into their background with an open mind. You keep trying to find out 'why?' and then the answer appears.

I don't know if it will work in the long-term or not, but the alternative is not great.

The VH Group and Kentaro have been at the club and in London in various numbers over the past three days.

Even people who doubted a takeover - and I include myself in that - now think it is closer than it ever has been.

[47er]

Because the People and Mirror have both questioned Sam's position in the event of a VH/Kentaro take over, the presser cannot be silent on the subject of Sam.

To say nothing would send the signal he is dead man walking.

Why do you keep going on about this? Perhaps the new owners have not made their mind up about this yet. There's no deal yet anyway.Either Sam will be kept on and given a chance to show how he handles the new situation or he'll be given another huge pay-out. Hardly a tragedy for him either way is it?

If its a choice between a takeover and retaining Sam as manager, much as I'm grateful to him for what he's done, I can live with it.

Are you telling us you can't? If not,what are you on about?

[Paul]

The 'agency feeder club' is some kind of bizarre smear. What it would mean is that good players from that camp would be pointed towards Rovers.

The chances are - down the line - that this could mean a change in playing style.

I don't know if it will work in the long-term or not, but the alternative is not great.

The VH Group and Kentaro have been at the club and in London in various numbers over the past three days.

Even people who doubted a takeover - and I include myself in that - now think it is closer than it ever has been.

After 90 minutes of misery at Anfield I think I could go with that scenario

[nicko]

After 90 minutes of misery at Anfield I think I could go with that scenario

There is a worry in the back of my mind that the lack of a takeover will prove very costly this season.

This is the most competitive Premier League in memory, that doesn't mean it is great but it is unbelievably tight and wins are harder to come by than ever.

A lot of work is going to have to be done in January.

And that takes money.

[Bobby G]

I agree. Just look at 8th to 20th position. Nothing really separates them. This could easily go on till the end of the season. Gaps are closing. Inconsistency is the key word in the league this season.

[alexanders]

Everyone is beating everyone. Big guns are dropping points. Exciting season ahead!

[dave birch]

There are some hysterics around here.

Keep this real.

The money would be from the VH Group.

The partnership and football knowledge is from Kentaro.

Kentaro are a very big football organisation whose guys have a massive amount of clients.

The 'agency feeder club' is some kind of bizarre smear. What it would mean is that good players from that camp would be pointed towards Rovers.

The chances are - down the line - that this could mean a change in playing style.

Is that so hard to take in?

Unless you have an agenda against this mob for some reason?

I hadn't even heard of them until a few days ago, but went into their background with an open mind. You keep trying to find out 'why?' and then the answer appears.

I don't know if it will work in the long-term or not, but the alternative is not great.

The VH Group and Kentaro have been at the club and in London in various numbers over the past three days.

Even people who doubted a takeover - and I include myself in that - now think it is closer than it ever has been.

Nicko,

What "hysterics, all I read is concern from some fans.

We realise the money has to come from somewhere.

What is the relationship between Kentaro and the VH group?

So, Kentaro are big in football, VH are big in chickens.

Agency feeder club is strange, but it does not mean that "good' players are heading down to Ewood. It means that player under the control of Kentaro are heading down to Ewood.

Change of manager means change of playing style (generally).

I've certainly no "agenda", I've never heard of them.

I've been keeping an open mind, I keep asking "Why", but no apparent answer appears.

The only thing that pops up in my mind is "Money" (I'll add) and how much is in it for me.

[unclejack28]

Because the People and Mirror have both questioned Sam's position in the event of a VH/Kentaro take over, the presser cannot be silent on the subject of Sam.

To say nothing would send the signal he is dead man walking.

Philipl from what I can see the thing that's turning you against all this is the news about Sams sacking. I feel the point that was trying to be made is that someone like Syed took over the club Sam would probably not have any problems however if for example VH and the agency group took over and their plans were to find young talent and give rovers the first choice then surely they would have a man in mind whom they would see the best fit to achieve this. I think Sams position would be results based and they would have a clear target, If he doesn't hit that target then its only right for a new owner to assess his options.

I'm not having a go or anything but a lot of your recent posts have been about Sam and him being sacked.

[philipl]

Totally accept what you are saying unclejack.

But you cannot escape the fact that the media face of VH/Kentara is raising questions about Sam's position on both occasions it has appeared.

Clearly there is an agenda at work,

[Mandrake]

phillipl

Would you please stop defending yourself all over this tread? We realize by know you have some inside knowledge. Try instead to present them in a constructive manner, instead of the ranting you are currently engaged in. In my opinion, you are currently contaminating this board by taking snippets of information and turning them into huge mountains. Don't be so conclusive, or your record of a "news/rumour reporter" would be short lived. Not only that, your bias is somewhat extremely apparent of late..we know your views by now, give it a rest please

Mandrake

[47er]

Nicko,

What "hysterics, all I read is concern from some fans.

We realise the money has to come from somewhere.

What is the relationship between Kentaro and the VH group?

So, Kentaro are big in football, VH are big in chickens.

Agency feeder club is strange, but it does not mean that "good' players are heading down to Ewood. It means that player under the control of Kentaro are heading down to Ewood.

Change of manager means change of playing style (generally).

I've certainly no "agenda", I've never heard of them.

I've been keeping an open mind, I keep asking "Why", but no apparent answer appears.

The only thing that pops up in my mind is "Money" (I'll add) and how much is in it for me.

To say that:

* we're gonna be a feeder club for the rest of football

*The agents will pick the team and the manager will be a puppet

*we won't have any stability cos players will be moving in and out all the time

all that is hysterical.

Finally if you're so worried that someone might make money out of us I'll say to you what I've said to others.......... "what's the alternative?"

More 90 mins like today and relegation that's what and NOBODY will be interested in us then one way or another----including half of our attending supporters.

Totally accept what you are saying unclejack.

But you cannot escape the fact that the media face of VH/Kentara is raising questions about Sam's position on both occasions it has appeared.

Clearly there is an agenda at work,

And so? Whats your point? (as I asked above)

[philipl]

The only public news acknowledgements of VH interest are Andy Cryer's pieces, news bunny on here and the Mirror and People articles.

The only public news acknowledgements of Kentara interest are the People and Mirror articles.

The only public comments about Sam perhaps not having a future are the People and Mirror articles.

[Taggart]

There is a worry in the back of my mind that the lack of a takeover will prove very costly this season.

This is the most competitive Premier League in memory, that doesn't mean it is great but it is unbelievably tight and wins are harder to come by than ever.

A lot of work is going to have to be done in January.

And that takes money.

couldn`t agree more, the squad needs a big shake up otherwise I can see Rovers really struggling this season (hope I am proved wrong). The midfield, and attack and especially the tactics need some TLC ! thank goodness for Paul Robinson thus far !

@Nicko - are you likely to get any news back from the Premier League meetign today from any of your sources, and is it the "fit and proper" test today/tomorrow ?

[Paul]

There is a worry in the back of my mind that the lack of a takeover will prove very costly this season.

This is the most competitive Premier League in memory, that doesn't mean it is great but it is unbelievably tight and wins are harder to come by than ever.

A lot of work is going to have to be done in January.

And that takes money.

On the basis of what I have seen this season I think Rovers could be considered prime candidates for relegation. We can't create, we can't score, we carry no real threat and we are regularly caught napping after half time. However, as I said elsewhere, I don't think we will go down because, much as I dislike the manager's style, I feel he will find enough to keep us up. Which is about all we can expect.

While I'd welcome new players and a new style it will have to be carefully managed in January. We badly need an established midfielder who can slot into the team and two strikers to feed off him. After Sam Allardyce spent £6m on Kalinic one has to question if he can identify those players.

[dave birch]

To say that:

* we're gonna be a feeder club for the rest of football

*The agents will pick the team and the manager will be a puppet

*we won't have any stability cos players will be moving in and out all the time

all that is hysterical.

Finally if you're so worried that someone might make money out of us I'll say to you what I've said to others.......... "what's the alternative?"

More 90 mins like today and relegation that's what and NOBODY will be interested in us then one way or another----including half of our attending supporters.

And so? Whats your point? (as I asked above)

47er, you've made comments within inverted commas, I'm not about to go back and check that they are correct, so can you produce the posts that they were made in, please. I must admit that I don't find it "hysterical" at all. Concern, maybe, hysterical, no.

Money, the root of all the evil that is football, I'm not worried about anyone making money out of football (players aside), if they can do that, then the club must be doing something right. If someone WERE doing that, then I'm sure they'd make more money by selling the formula.

My point? Perhaps it was just addressing some of Nicko's, in a not so aggressive manner.

[Sparky Marky]

I think someone has to ask questions about the manager. As it is, we're heading for nothing more than relegation with this rubbish...

[DE.]

There is a worry in the back of my mind that the lack of a takeover will prove very costly this season.

This is the most competitive Premier League in memory, that doesn't mean it is great but it is unbelievably tight and wins are harder to come by than ever.

A lot of work is going to have to be done in January.

And that takes money.

Agree wholeheartedly with this. I was looking at the table yesterday and was surprised at how few teams I would actually be confident of us beating, home or away. I fear we're in real trouble and investment is needed badly if we're going to survive.

[dave birch]

I think someone has to ask questions about the manager. As it is, we're heading for nothing more than relegation with this rubbish...

Sparky, I think that every manager in the prem, bar a couple, have got questions to answer.

The number of questions depends on whether the team has won or lost and where in the league they are sitting.

[nicko]

Nicko,

What "hysterics, all I read is concern from some fans.

We realise the money has to come from somewhere.

What is the relationship between Kentaro and the VH group?

So, Kentaro are big in football, VH are big in chickens.

Agency feeder club is strange, but it does not mean that "good' players are heading down to Ewood. It means that player under the control of Kentaro are heading down to Ewood.

Change of manager means change of playing style (generally).

I've certainly no "agenda", I've never heard of them.

I've been keeping an open mind, I keep asking "Why", but no apparent answer appears.

The only thing that pops up in my mind is "Money" (I'll add) and how much is in it for me.

The hysterics were coming from one particular source...

Of coure you should ask questions and, above all, 'why?'

That's what I have been doing for the past few months.

I have finally found a 'why?' that makes a lot of sense.

This 'agency feeder club' is coming from people interpreting the info I got and using it to their own ends...the pro-Syed camp.

The 'manager is being sacked' stuff is along the same line. I am making the point that Big Sam - like all other managers who have had owners change over their heads - are suddenly very much under p.

Again this is being used by some to be a stick to beat the prospective owners.

That is what I call an agenda.

For the record I have spoken to Jerome Anderson once in my career and didn't take to him. His boss is a guy called Phillipe Huber, a big cheese in Switzerland. I only called him once too [a decade or so ago] and he was polite but bland.

However you have to say that all of the people in that Kentaro team have good CVs and are clearly no fools.

[dave birch]

, a big cheese in Switzerland.

I liked this, I would have added the "bland" bit but thought the Swiss were above that

[OscarRaven]

My stance has always been that I hope none of the takeovers happen and we stay with the Walker Trust - even as an unwanted entity. This would mean the club would have to be run on a sustainable basis and yes I accept that would mean we couldn't compete with clubs who operate unsustainable models and all the consequences that may entail - eventually. Initially this was dismissed as an option; yet very recently it emerged continued trust ownership is a possibility (club removed from sale).

That said, the clubs biggest problem is players and their wages, the prospect of football agents running a football club sounds like a fox in the hen house initially but the more I think about the more sensible it becomes for both parties (3rd party ownership issues / wage control). I actually quite like the idea and if the proposal is to run the club in a sustainable way (and even try and turn a profit through player trading) then I'm all for it. Its still a gamble but the odds are more favourable with knowledgeable football people than business men with too much money and vanity.

As for the manager, I'm grateful to him for saving us from relegation but the price was high. Quite simply myth or not some players do not want to play Allardyce football, if we want to attract the best young talent he has to go - but hopefully it is done in an amenable and well managed way between seasons.

One question for the new owners has always been and still remains - how do you intend to recoup your 'investment'

[47er]

47er, you've made comments within inverted commas, I'm not about to go back and check that they are correct, so can you produce the posts that they were made in, please. I must admit that I don't find it "hysterical" at all. Concern, maybe, hysterical, no.

Money, the root of all the evil that is football, I'm not worried about anyone making money out of football (players aside), if they can do that, then the club must be doing something right. If someone WERE doing that, then I'm sure they'd make more money by selling the formula.

My point? Perhaps it was just addressing some of Nicko's, in a not so aggressive manner.

No Dave--none of those are actual quotes, that's why they are NOT in inverted commas but they are comments that have been made. Haven't you read them?

[Majiball]

Totally accept what you are saying unclejack.

But you cannot escape the fact that the media face of VH/Kentara is raising questions about Sam's position on both occasions it has appeared.

Clearly there is an agenda at work,

But that's always going to be the way. I struggle to remember many take-overs that have not resulted in a manager being sacked shortly after its completion. Sam's done well in keeping us up, but if you were going to a game for the first time what impression would you get? Our support yesterday was hardly positive about him, Forums don't paint a rosy picture and neither do the press/media.

If I had my team going through the books as well then to gain a better picture I'd be scrutinsing the recent transfers:

Kalinic 6 million, not doing well.

Chimbonda 1.5million, not playing.

Diouf 1.5million, doing well.

Van heerden, gone

N'zonzi, great last year, but I've only seen this.

Diouf 2, alright but a loaner

Benjani, No Comment.

1 of them is doing well this year, the rest flatter to deceive and are not performing. Now whilst its not significant investment in premiership terms, it is investment and I'd ask what I would get for them in their current form? Now who would I ask? Rovers, maybe but its far more likely I'd turn to my partner Kentaro. I wonder what they would say, especially when it comes to the major one.

Also least we forget that Kentaro are a European company and football is very different on the continent, direct play is rare even at the lowest levels of the game. It is not well thought off and its highly unlikely they will have seen how we can play from the tail end of last season. I wonder what they are saying to VH about what they see on the pitch?

Opinion is split over many things, the fans are restless and fed-up and its been going on for months now. I can see why people who really haven't seen a lot of rovers over the last couple of years would walk in and think change is needed. Comments in the recent media cannot exactly help the impression that is generated, how do they know its all tongue in cheek?

Sam has done well for us overall, its been up and down and he's not the only one who should shoulder blame for our current plight. But he is the easy target and the one easily pushed out the door.