[Archived] Some Thoughts On Recent Events

[Exiled in Toronto]

A week ago you were crying out for entertainment so you should be happy watching this Christmas "pantomime" which is more than likely to be be played out in the championship next season now that you have your wish and Allardyce has gone. Those who really know their football warned the club would sink like a stone without Allardyce in charge, not least because there is no one better willing, available or capable of doing the job. Hope you enjoy the "rollicking games" in the championship. Along with our new owners, you're a joke.

So get a consortium together, source 40 million to buy the club, reinstate BFS and source another 15 million to give to your hero if you believe in him that much. Thought not. You'd just prefer it if someone else did that for you.

The new owners didn't like him so he's gone. What counts is what happens from here on in, not what you think someone else should have done with their money.

[imy9]

I've not spotted anyone claiming that Sam was the messiah.

Just lots of people who thought and still think that's he's better than anyone Rovers are likely to get.

I hope that's wrong and Rovers get somebody extremely capable, but I won't hold my breath.

When people say we WILL be relegated without Allardyce then that gives him the status of a messiah. There are lots of people with our squad who can not only avoid relegation but can finish in the top ten, look at how tight the league is to believe that.

[Yorick]

Well I for one amd sick to the back teeth of this entire pantomime. Everything that is wrong with Premiership football has played out as though we are fast-forwarding through a new Panorama episode.

The Trust, having decided that their role no longer involved us, had one remaining duty: to sell the club to someone who would continue Jack's legacy. It now appears they sold to the first people to come up with the cash to add to their already obscenely large tax-free pile.

The new owners paid for control, so they can do what they like. They didn't want Sam to spend their money - fair enough, I wouldn't have given him 15 million of my own money either, and I don't believe anyone else on this board would have, and the Trust certainly didn't either. Easy to say 'spend' when it's not your money. But, like everyone else, I was stunned there was not a new manager lined up.

Williams has come out with one measly paragraph that said nothing. Your bosses are messing things up so you need to step up. You're still Chairman ffs: lead from the front and if it costs you your job then so be it.

Kean talks a good game but I'm sensing the whiff of personal ambition a bit too strongly at this stage of the game.

And then Nelsen comes out boo-hoo-ing about life in the trenches. A man who gets paid 2 million a year by the club to play for the club and whose last interview I heard was laughing about getting paid so much to run around and kick people. Now he's upset that his boss's, boss's, boss's boss (assuming that Finn and Williams actually do something for their large salaries) hasn't flown 5,000 miles to hold his hand. Guess what Ryan, I'm upset you haven't flown 3,000 miles to tell me why you dozed off in the 89th minute at Bolton. Just do your job.

No doubt there will be more shenanigans and incompetence to come but I've lost the will to emote about it. No doubt the club will survive all this but is this really better than watching plenty of rollicking games in a wide open Championship? Those chaps at United FC seem to have the right idea having seen a couple of their cup ties on tv here; their fans seem to have a marvelous time.

Wake me up when it's over.

Hey Up! It seems the anti Sams are peering into the future and not liking what they see. Hate to say we told you so EIT but we told you so. A few people could have an awful lot to answer for before long.

Gets ready for cries of 'you can't blame me it's all down to the (delete as appropriate) trust / JW / Finn / Nelsen / Big sam / Saeed / Shah / Dan Williams / nicko / grooby / PhilipL / Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

If nobody has spoken to the players, what the hell has John Williams been doing? One poxy statement. He needs to start talking, both to players and fans. I can't believe he is completetly in the dark about Venky's plans.

I'd be very suprised if he's a part of them. I'd be very suprised if he even wrote that statement. JW will be desperately disappointed in whats happening and I'm sure will be away as soon as his contractual situation allows.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

The interview is a public stance from the players, and very rarely do you ever see one in professional football. I am certain he is speaking on behalf of ALL the players.

Venkys congratulations for splitting our club in 2 days. Anyone who says otherwise must be on some morphine.

We really are in deep shyte here when respected team players are coming out with statements like that.In all my years supporting Rovers I've never known anything like this at Ewood...complete shambles.

How could the trust have got this so wrong?

[Bobby G]

I wish I knew. Ive been asking myself that for a while now.

[Blue blood]

Wondering that too.

So either the trust were incompetent (can't see Williams for one being like that, and if that was the case we'd have sold to Williams or Syed or possible others) or Venkeys put up one hell of a PR stunt given the reality we are facing.

Makes the whole situation all the more confusing, how they can pursuade the powers that be that they're good for the club, then utterly mess it up (so far) when actually in control.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Hey Up! It seems the anti Sams are peering into the future and not liking what they see. Hate to say we told you so EIT but we told you so. A few people could have an awful lot to answer for before long.

Gets ready for cries of 'you can't blame me it's all down to the (delete as appropriate) trust / JW / Finn / Nelsen / Big sam / Saeed / Shah / Dan Williams / nicko / grooby / PhilipL / Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

Perhaps you should have spoken up sooner to drown out the few Anti-Sam's and influence our new owners to your own way of thinking, as I'm sure they base 40 million pound decisions on messageboards. Still, you seem to be enjoying yourself at the moment, so perhaps not.

What tripe.

[Mattyblue]

Who were part of the takeover talks? JW? I would assume so, Kentaro? Wouldn't have thought so, so Venkys themselves were present? What on earth did the Trust and Jw buy into? Or was it here's your 25 million pieces of silver and off we go?

[Wiggy]

Who were part of the takeover talks? JW? I would assume so, Kentaro? Wouldn't have thought so, so Venkys themselves were present? What on earth did the Trust and Jw buy into? Or was it here's your 25 million pieces of silver and off we go?

Why would JW have been involved in the talks? He's an employee, not an owner, trustee or shareholder.

[Mattyblue]

So nobody from the board would be present? Nobody to explain how the club functions and what is required?

I am certainly no expert on takeovers so you could well be right and it would probably explain a lot.

[jim mk2]

So get a consortium together, source 40 million to buy the club, reinstate BFS and source another 15 million to give to your hero if you believe in him that much. Thought not. You'd just prefer it if someone else did that for you.

The new owners didn't like him so he's gone. What counts is what happens from here on in, not what you think someone else should have done with their money.

What counts is what happens to the club I have supported for 55 years, not fly-by-night owners who have jeopardised the future of my club by sacking the most important member of its staff.

What counts is whether we stay in the Premier League, because it's obvious the new owners don't realise there will be no way back and they don't have a clue as to the damage they have caused already in their short tenure.

The rest of your post is rubbish.

[Wiggy]

So nobody from the board would be present? Nobody to explain how the club functions and what is required?

I am certainly no expert on takeovers so you could well be right and it would probably explain a lot.

I would have thought David Brown and Richard Matthewman may have had some input.

[tonyoz]

A week ago you were crying out for entertainment so you should be happy watching this Christmas "pantomime" which is more than likely to be be played out in the championship next season now that you have your wish and Allardyce has gone. Those who really know their football warned the club would sink like a stone without Allardyce in charge, not least because there is no one better willing, available or capable of doing the job. Hope you enjoy the "rollicking games" in the championship. Along with our new owners, you're a joke.

jim, I'm afraid it has become clear that anyone willing and able to purchase the club was never going to be happy with the Allardyce media reputation as a one-dimensional, "stop the opposition playing", "hoof it upfield" specialist. Venkys (or other buyer for that matter) want some satisfying, profile-enhancing payback for their investment and 7-1 thrashings were not on the agenda. Nicko's article summed up the logic I think. Once they had decided that they wanted more than Sam could offer, there was no way they would let him spend their money in January. I know that you are in the "winning at all costs" camp but any new owner was never likely to be of the same mind.

Sam has gone......that's it - the end. We are in the same position we were in when Ince was sacked really - we have no option but to get behind Kean. Nelsen and the boys need to do the same - Venkys are paying them enough!

[den]

We are in the same position we were in when Ince was sacked really - we have no option but to get behind Kean.

You've not been reading about recent events then tonyoz? Plus, fortunately [and there is a lot of luck involved when you appoint a manager] after Ince was sacked, we found a manager who could turn it around - not the next Brian Kidd.

But hey, why wait, let's sack Sam, let's gamble with our PL status.

[Exiled in Toronto]

What counts is what happens to the club I have supported for 55 years, not fly-by-night owners who have jeopardised the future of my club by sacking the most important member of its staff.

What counts is whether we stay in the Premier League, because it's obvious the new owners don't realise there will be no way back and they don't have a clue as to the damage they have caused already in their short tenure.

The rest of your post is rubbish.

Have you not realised yet that Premiership status and fly-by-night owners are synonymous? They are the only ones buying.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Open question to board members:

If all appears lost in a couple on months time and we appear to be on a one way ticket to the Chumpionship,what do we as fans plan to do about it?

[jim mk2]

Have you not realised yet that Premiership status and fly-by-night owners are synonymous? They are the only ones buying.

And have you not realised that your friend Sam was just about the only guarantee we had of staying in this league ?

[tonyoz]

You've not been reading about recent events then tonyoz? Plus, fortunately [and there is a lot of luck involved when you appoint a manager] after Ince was sacked, we found a manager who could turn it around - not the next Brian Kidd.

But hey, why wait, let's gamble with our PL status.

I meant that clubs often don't have replacements immediately to hand when they get rid of a manager. As I tried to point out, Venkys were never going to be satisfied with just maintaining the status quo. Rovers have a reputation as a well-run club with a long, proud history but that's not going to sell any chickens. The owners want a bit of glamour for their 40 million. It's too late for second thoughts.

Look, I don't like the way things have been done.......we are the funniest pantomime in the country right now but we are in a new era whether we like it or not. We have to hope that Kean can realise some of his undoubted potential but he will need all our support.

[Yorick]

How could the trust have got this so wrong?

Thats like the hotel waiter's question. He'd just delivered a bottle of champagne to George Best and Miss World Mary Stavin in teh hotel penthouse suite after George had just won big bucks in the casino. 'Where did it all go wrong George?'

[Mattyblue]

So, these fabled 'clauses' of the Trust, a load of @#/? all along?

[Yorick]

We have to hope that Kean can realise some of his undoubted potential but he will need all our support.

Where did that one come from tony? Had you even heard of Mr Kean before last Tuesday?

[bob fleming]

Open question to board members:

If all appears lost in a couple on months time and we appear to be on a one way ticket to the Chumpionship,what do we as fans plan to do about it?

Bit early for that really SG. It's not looking at all good but it is early days. Football has a habit of proving you wrong when you least expect it. I'm hoping I've called it all wrong of course. What do we do about it? I don't know, we'll cross that bridge should we have to. Put it this way though, I doubt they'll be selling many chickens in Blackburn. If they do royally mess it up I'm wondering what a third full Ewood, playing in the Championship will do for their image?

Maybe they should listen to our Chairman, Club Captain and a few others who have been at the club for a while at this stage? Only someone with ulterior motives, or very foolish, would just listen to one source for advice (as is the perception at the moment) particularly as it's blatantly obvious, even to someone who may not know a great deal about football, that there is a huge conflict of interest - akin to putting a fox in charge of the chicken coop.

[Kelbo]

Bit early for that really SG. It's not looking at all good but it is early days. Football has a habit of proving you wrong when you least expect it. I'm hoping I've called it all wrong of course. What do we do about it? I don't know, we'll cross that bridge should we have to. Put it this way though, I doubt they'll be selling many chickens in Blackburn. If they do royally mess it up I'm wondering what a third full Ewood, playing in the Championship will do for their image?

Maybe they should listen to our Chairman, Club Captain and a few others who have been at the club for a while at this stage? Only someone with ulterior motives, or very foolish, would just listen to one source for advice (as is the perception at the moment) particularly as it's blatantly obvious, even to someone who may not know a great deal about football, that there is a huge conflict of interest - akin to putting a fox in charge of the chicken coop.

And in that line, there there lies the answer, no more than this, conflict of interest - go back to yesterday on sk sports and listen to Barclays comments!!

[tonyoz]

Where did that one come from tony? Had you even heard of Mr Kean before last Tuesday?

It came from an article posted by Unleaded:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/english-football/steve-kean-the-understated-scot-handed-the-reigns-at-blackburn-1.1074708

[philipl]

So, these fabled 'clauses' of the Trust, a load of @#/? all along?

This was what Kamy wrote on 23 November about the sale- not yet a month ago.

I will leave it to others to re-read this report on the conditions of sale and reflect on what has happened since then. It doesn't need a great leap of imagination to guess there might have been other assurances given in the talks with Rothschilds, the Trust and others before the agreed sale - assurances which more realistic and more knowledgeable bidders might have argued over to their own detriment rather than simply saying yes. Perhaps the Raos own admitted lack of knowledge meant they simply didn't understand what they were agreeing to when so impressing with their amenability but could that be too charitable a view given the pivotal role of a certain sports agency is more clearly seen now?