[Archived] Protest Round Up

[glen9mullan]

Why did it come this?

Blackburn went on one of their worst runs in the history of the club in the early part of year, which sent the team spirallying toward the drop door. The aftermath of this lead to groups being set up on facebook one in particular which is still running strong today is the "Sack Steve Kean group which has over 1500 members". When Rovers played Manchester City last season the first sort of protest took place out side when a few hundred fans demonstrated outside the Blackburn End and at the Jack Walker stand entrance, calling for Steve Kean's removal. This protest saw many take a dim view, with some saying that Jack Walkers Statue had been climbed on by yobs, showing disrespect.

Rovers went into their final Premiership fixture needing a result to ensure that this season did not start in the Championship.

Following a summer which proved to be full of broken promises Rovers started the season with three defeats on the bounce in the league. This saw people writing letters, emails and trying to open communication with the club. An open letter was also sent to the Telegraph as fans cried out in desperation for answers of what was going on at the club that ran through their veins. The Manager was making stupid statements, whilst the owners was only adding fueled to the fire by making similar statements and ones which could have been found in a dodgy batch of xmas crackers, as they was not funny, I found them insulting my intelligence with ridiculas statements of intent, whilst words is all we have ever seen, whilst actions have not been forthcoming to match those words.

Following another poor display at Fulham, I had supporters emailing me their thoughts, and asking me what could be done. I recieved 973 emails from different supporters worldwide in the space of 48 hours. In all honesty I did'nt have a clue what we could do,

I thought do we just protest at the ground after matches, but would this be heard? Do we protest during games? If we did would it just make results worse? Do we protest against the owners or manager or both? What was our biggest gripes? What was the alternative to protesting as the club had ignored everyone else's communication?

It was a dilemma and to add to that I thought can I do something, or is it too much work for one person, and if it is too much work who can help me?

All these questions went through my head as people was pushing me to organise something, I had people pushing me wanted prtests to happen, but then they for one reason or another said they wanted to stay in the background and not to be publically seen supporting the movement.

I felt like I was being thrown to the Lions at times and that if it all went "Pear shaped" Then I would be the one who solely took responsibility of any aftermath it may cause.

Do I just walk away and not do anything was something that never crossed my mind, Because my love for Blackburn Rovers and football in general was far too strong for me to just sit there and take it on the chin that our owners don't give two hoots about the clubs fan base.

I got to work thinking on the best way to approach a Protest for the Arsenal game, I remember telling supporters at the time this was there one chance to publically air their opinion. I knew the press would be all over it world wide and it would get the maximum exposure so the message got through to the owners.

Everything was in the supporters favour.

1. The Match was on Sky

2. The Owners would be present

3. Our 1 point from 12 coupled with last seasons disasters warrented it

4.The games was an early Kick Off so it would not be fueled by alchohol

5. The protest would be over an hour before Kick Off

6.It was a fixture that would be considered a bonus fixture should we get a result.

I planned a Protest March and did not know if supporters would join or not, I remember walking down to the Havelock Inn with my brother thinking what happens if only 10 people are there. The place was packed with the press world wide. I did not want to talk to the press and told them to talk to supporters. This was not my march it was the supporters march. I just organised it so that no-one got in trouble and to make sure it was peaceful.

During the week I had liased with the Police who had been very helpful, whilst the club also wished to get involved but I chose to let the Police speak to the club, because I was alone in the organising of it, I could not get anyone to lend a hand in the logistics although I got a couple to do a few interviews whilst a couple got some posters made. The week leading upto the march was stressful, I was on a course and I had TV crews arriving athe study centre, when I was supposed to be taking exams. I was getting home and had Danish and Norwegian TV sat outside my house. My phone never stopped ringing and I did not stop for over a week. People who said they would help was not helping, and people who was puhsing me to do it, was not showing their hand either. I felt quite lonely, but what kept me going was the support of people who wanted me to do this.

The March it itself went off with out incident with numbers at the end estimated between 500-700 by Police although around 250 started from the Havelock. I was really proud of supporters who took part that day, and also proud of supporters who did not, as they respected our opinions to do this. The atmosphere against Arsenal was electric, and to top of a day which went well we won 4-3, it was a great day. The watching world, had seen supporters take a stand and it had not effected the games as we won it.

I thought that would be it, after Steve Kean went on live TV and said he would meet with the discrutled section of supporters, and he would meet with me, so we could put across our gripes.

I spoke with Paul Agnew on the telephone, the following week to ask him when this meeting would take place. What happened during a very long conversation was Paul attacked the supporters for Blaming Steve Kean and said that we should be aiming our anger higher up the food chain. He said that we did not understand the mess the club was in, and that Steve has had to deal with this throughout his time as Manager. He attacked Simon Williams over the slection protests for the Pune trip and said that a Star should of have been

put in the programme or a half time raffle should have taken place rather than a group of people who has been selected for fans forum on democratically and in a way were if you was friends with the committee you was in. He took away all credibility of the fans forum in his words to me (Please note i'm only relaying what was said and this is not my opinion). He then asked me if I knew Glenn Pegden and Lee Grooby and spoke of his dislike for both individuals. He then went on to explain that we have a board of directors and people at Ewood Park who are working against each other and trying to trip each other at every opportunity. He then wanted to know about me, and my education back ground, my supporter history and said he would set a meeting up with Steve Kean when they returned from Pune. He also discussed possible ways forward in terms of action groups, fans on the board and he said he had some big idea's which he would discuss at a later date.

Still we had no feedback and Paul Agnew did not get back in touch, Steve Kean went from tv and radio studio doing a lap of honour for the Arsenal result, whilst he made more poor statements about 1% of fans having a bad attitude but he did not care as 99% of fans support him and the team.

After another poor performance against Newcastle and a home hammering to City we held a sit in after the match, it was only partially organised that we would remain behind as I was not too keen of opeing too much dialogue with the club on how best to protests, although at this point Simon Littler joined me in the organisation side of the protests. The crowd turned at 3-0 down that day, and the protestors was blamed for that, which was silly to say the least when 90%of the ground turned. The sit in had around 700 people again in pockets around the ground and Kean once again potrayed a minority card.

With wins still not coming in the league and the club still refusing to communicate with the discruntled section, I could not believe we was going to be doing a third protest, surely it was in the clubs best interest to get fans around a table and discuss the issues we had?

I held an open supporters meeting which was not a protests meeting but was a meeting for fans to discuss their concerns about the clubs current position both on and off the pitch, TV crews and local press turned up. It was a mixed bag of opinions on the night and it was very fruitful in terms of the content of the meeting. More and more people where contacting me by phone and email including sponsors, ex club officials and of course my sources who were now throwing more and more information to me about the behind the scenes activity at Blackburn Rovers. I was being told protests need to intensify and was been given a million reasons why they should not stop. Armed with the information plus what I already knew , i realised that unless we raised the bar and got the club listening we could be in massive danger of having no club.

Simon and I went to a meeting at the club with John Newsham and the Police where I let a few things slip on purpose about goings on at Ewood Park. What this resulted in was another meeting with John Newsham after the Police went, His ears had been pricked by the things I was saying and although he confirmed somethings, he played the denial card on other things. Although later he confirmed via telephone to Simon that my knowledge of behind the scenes activity was a big worry to the club, due to the accuracy of it. I thought at the time, am i giving too much away? Will my sources dry up, or indeed become a target of the club? I knew i had only given them a taste of what I knew and that I held the cards and not them. So I was quite comfortable that I'd saved the full chapter and verse for another day. With the protest plans in place for the Spurs game, The club and the Police started playing hard ball telling us what we can and can't do, I didnt want to seem ungrateful as they was going to open more channels for communication so supporters would get the opportunity to have there concerns heard. So although me and Simon put up a good fight, we had to give in on the demands or face a hefty police bill.

The spurs march was much bigger than the Arsenal march whilst the sit in peaked in the thousands and not the hundreds. The press was still not cutting the protest movement any slack in particular the local paper, whilst the club kept issuing statements claiming us to be a massive minority. I remember thinking if fan wont publically show their concetn and offer no alternative then the club have already won. With the knowledge I had in my head I thought shall I release it, shall I call another open meeting, shall I give fans the whole picture. On the other hand I was thinking If I do would i be hanging the club to a point where we have no club?

I let a few more things slip at the club which resulted in us having a meeting with John Newsham and 8 supporters whilst a few of Johns team also turned up with the Police. We asked some more posing questions whilst I let a few more things slip, You could see the panic all over the faces of the club officials that not only did we know things about the club, but we had things in writing to back it up, the club had to concede and confim more, but publically around a table to more than just me and simon. It was felt at that meeting that we needed to be talking to the board as John was not the person to answer these questions.

In the mean time we had turned our attention to Venkys for the protests, this is something Paul Hunt did not want, and he had already instructed the club to not facilitate protests and he wanted them outside. It was Paul Hunts decision to play music over the protests against spurs, whilst after agreeing this weeks protests. John Newsham after a chat with Paul Hunt then went back on what we agreed. He told us there would be no banners and said there was anti protest groups who was going to cause trouble should there be a protest. Deep down inside and Simon is in agreement with me, we knew the club was trying to screw us down and play the divide and conquer card. By putting it out in the public domain its my opinion that they was planting a seed to try and get non protestors to turn on protestors to cause ugly scenes so they can lose Both Simon and I 's credibility. They knew any trouble would result in the peaceful crew who the Protestors have always been pulling back and not taking part if the protestors felt they could be in danger. The removal of banners was a discraceful decision, as was throwing people out for singing anti-kean songs. People having to collect banners after the game was also an awful decsion as it effected participants, Whilst lots of fans were coming to me yesterday stating the club woulod not give them their banners.

Number were down on protests for these reasons plus many took their children to bonfires.

The Plane Idea was to show the club that we won't be silenced and quite the opposite we will intensify things. Not many complained about the plane prior to the game, but its been mixed since it happened.

Simon and I have both decided that we will no longer discuss any protests with the club, We have been accomodating enough and feel its now down to the club, to get these meeting they have promised arranged. I will not rest until the Rao family has answered these concerns, they can either do these via meetings here or in Pune. The club will no longer find out from us what our plans are as we intend to do things a little differently. There is more ways that to skin a cat.

All I care about is our club having a long term future and at present it looks bleak, If the club are reading this which they say they do, then they will no exacltly what I mean!!!!!!!!!

By removing the public freedom of speech at the game yesterday they think they have backed us into a corner, but in truth its they who are now in the corner, and there bargaining chips are low, as they have very few blinds left.

I urge all supporters to fight for the future of this club, whilst things can be salvaged, and I urge the club one last time to get a meeting with the supporters so that ALL issues can be resolved, and this needs to be with those who can make decisions. There is very little point us talking to "Yes Men" or people who can have no direct effect on the future.

[DE.]

I spoke with Paul Agnew on the telephone, the following week to ask him when this meeting would take place. What happened during a very long conversation was Paul attacked the supporters for Blaming Steve Kean and said that we should be aiming our anger higher up the food chain. He said that we did not understand the mess the club was in, and that Steve has had to deal with this throughout his time as Manager. He attacked Simon Williams over the slection protests for the Pune trip and said that a Star should of have been

put in the programme or a half time raffle should have taken place rather than a group of people who has been selected for fans forum on democratically and in a way were if you was friends with the committee you was in. He took away all credibility of the fans forum in his words to me (Please note i'm only relaying what was said and this is not my opinion). He then asked me if I knew Glenn Pegden and Lee Grooby and spoke of his dislike for both individuals. He then went on to explain that we have a board of directors and people at Ewood Park who are working against each other and trying to trip each other at every opportunity.

Wow.

[philipl]

Wow.

Mr Agnew does not escape unscaithed from Podcast 14.

Glen is exposing the tip of the iceberg there in terms of the organisational dysfunctionality at Ewood these days.

All credit to Glen and Simon for what they have done and the way they have handled themselves in the face of exceptionally obtuse behaviour by several people who are /(not) part of the club but seem free to talk for it.

[thenonda]

these things need to be in public domain to galvanise the fans of this club, it seems to be the only way it will happen, 6 wins in 10 months isnt doing it.

As for hanging the club... There will always be BRFC and fans to support it.

Let us know what really is going on!

[DE.]

Mr Agnew does not escape unscaithed from Podcast 14.

Glen is exposing the tip of the iceberg there in terms of the organisational dysfunctionality at Ewood these days.

I knew Agnew was a divisive figure but that did shock me. Incredibly unprofessional and shows an unbelievable amount of contempt for the supporters. Haven't listened to Podcast 14 but evidently I should.

[Rovers_786]

Glenn I agree with everything you said,and thanks for writing all that up because true hurts the club and none of the staffs at the club are replying to e-mails and don't care one bit about the fans.I love Rovers and I hate Kean and if kean is not gone, I feel that the treatment Neil lennon got by the fans could happen to kean I am not trying to get people to do this.

[philipl]

Glenn I agree with everything you said,and thanks for writing all that up because true hurts the club and none of the staffs at the club are replying to e-mails and don't care one bit about the fans.I love Rovers and I hate Kean and if kean is not gone, I feel that the treatment Neil lennon got by the fans could happen to kean I am not trying to get people to do this.

That is a dumb post even to suggest what happened to Lennon could happen to Kean at Rovers. For the benefit of Tom, this sort of post is the reason why Glen and Simon are your leaders.

[Ste B]

rather than a group of people who has been selected for fans forum on democratically and in a way were if you was friends with the committee you was in. He took away all credibility of the fans forum in his words to me (Please note i'm only relaying what was said and this is not my opinion). He then asked me if I knew Glenn Pegden and Lee Grooby and spoke of his dislike for both individuals.

1) Thats not true at all about joining the fans forum - ask Tom M or Fernhurst Blue for example.

2) This strikes me as PA telling you what he thinks you wanted to hear. After all you yourself had pretty much already said this in the run up.

That is a dumb post even to suggest what happened to Lennon could happen to Kean at Rovers. For the benefit of Tom, this sort of post is the reason why Glen and Simon are your leaders.

No they are NOT, and most certainly the fact that you are telling me they are really tells me that they arent.

[Tom]

That is a dumb post even to suggest what happened to Lennon could happen to Kean at Rovers. For the benefit of Tom, this sort of post is the reason why Glen and Simon are your leaders.

Once again they aren't our leaders and I very much doubt they would ever claim to be

[the original david brent]

Glenn,

when are you going to reveal everything that you know?

Up until yesterday, whilst I did not attend the protests, I was in favour of them. I felt that yesterday's protest was counter productive. I can only speak on behalf of the people who i went to the game with who were of the same mentality. However, we are not privy to the same information that you are. If we were, Im sure we would have supported yesterday's protest!

I just think that all the good work you have done is in danger of being undone unless you reveal everything. I reiterate that there were real murmurings amongst many rovers fans about yesterday's protest; these being the same fans who have previously supported you.

[glen9mullan]

1) Thats not true at all about joining the fans forum - ask Tom M or Fernhurst Blue for example.

2) This strikes me as PA telling you what he thinks you wanted to hear. After all you yourself had pretty much already said this in the run up.

No they are NOT, and most certainly the fact that you are telling me they are really tells me that they arent.

Only relaying the conversation Ste B, so don't take it personally, As Glenn P will confirm, I spoke about this on the phone so time ago to him, what was said.

On the leader front , We are all equals, and I'm no-one's leader, Im just an organiser to keep people on the right side of the law and safe.

[RovertheHill]

That is a dumb post even to suggest what happened to Lennon could happen to Kean at Rovers. For the benefit of Tom, this sort of post is the reason why Glen and Simon are your leaders.

"your" as opposed to "our" ? Interesting choice of word...

[glen9mullan]

Glenn,

when are you going to reveal everything that you know?

Up until yesterday, whilst I did not attend the protests, I was in favour of them. I felt that yesterday's protest was counter productive. I can only speak on behalf of the people who i went to the game with who were of the same mentality. However, we are not privy to the same information that you are. If we were, Im sure we would have supported yesterday's protest!

I just think that all the good work you have done is in danger of being undone unless you reveal everything. I reiterate that there were real murmurings amongst many rovers fans about yesterday's protest; these being the same fans who have previously supported you.

I spoke with many of the phone both yesterday and today regarding a plan of Action David, Some things currently have my hands tied, because of a potential knock on effect, i'm happy to talk to anyone in person or on the phone, but can't at present but anything in txt form. Although another supporters meeting in not out of the question

[Alan75]

That is a dumb post even to suggest what happened to Lennon could happen to Kean at Rovers. For the benefit of Tom, this sort of post is the reason why Glen and Simon are your leaders.

When where they appointed leaders.

Is there some official supporters group that has appointed them

No offence to Glen but didnt he self appoint himself to start a protest march before the Arsenal game.

[Tom]

I thought the supporters meeting was productive (on a personal level as well as me and tris got a chance to talk to people re/ Pune) especially as both protesters and non protesters saying their piece

[riggers77]

Never have I felt so disconnected with my club than today. Yesterday when Chelsea scored I wasn't bothered and at full time when we were beaten again I wasn't bothered one bit. I only find myself going because I can't get a refund on my season ticket and am not so well off that can dismiss having spent £350. Thanks for your hard work Glenn and Simon but I have officially given up hope for our club under this current regime.. Will be back to playing footy on the weekend next year rather than watching the arrogance and ineptitude of kean.

[philipl]

Sorry to have taken the thread somewhat off track but the point I am making is that where there is no infrastructure for leadership election or selection then leaders emerge through their own qualities and are usually upheld by popular acclaim. When there is leadership, the movement gels and it becomes more difficult through peer pressure for the loons at the fringe to inflict the like of what befell Celtic's Neil Lennon.

By undermining Glen and Simon, the club are bringing untold additional possible problems on themselves in my view.

Anyway this is detracting from the post Glen made to start this thread. I urge everyone to read it to get a flavour of some of the nonsenses that are going on at Rovers under Venky's.

[Glenn]

Point to note.

Glen one N = Mullan

Glenn two Ns = Pegden (me)

It's only a small point, but I think Glen and I could both do with not being mistaken for the other (or a religious scholar or a Disney character ) at this stage.

[Mercer]

Many people have suspected that Rovers is a dysfunctional mess for some time now and some of the rumours of various practices over almost 12 months would be almost unbelievable, under normal circumstances.

However, what I can't get my head round, is why the club has not been exposed by the media at large. Even if only a fraction of the rumours are true and can be proven then I think the press would have a field day.

[perthblue02]

Many people have suspected that Rovers is a dysfunctional mess for some time now and some of the rumours of various practices over almost 12 months would be almost unbelievable, under normal circumstances.

However, what I can't get my head round, is why the club has not been exposed by the media at large. Even if only a fraction of the rumours are true and can be proven then I think the press would have a field day.

Because all our attention is on BRFC, the FA, Premier League and press play in a bigger pond - overseas tv rights for England games, foreign tv deals and tournaments involving premier league clubs, and newspapers and journalist's need the scoop stories, following the money trail leads to a very few people, the sacrifice of a very very small fish as no relevance on the bigger picture

[lowerdarwenblue]

Never have I felt so disconnected with my club than today. Yesterday when Chelsea scored I wasn't bothered and at full time when we were beaten again I wasn't bothered one bit. I only find myself going because I can't get a refund on my season ticket and am not so well off that can dismiss having spent £350. Thanks for your hard work Glenn and Simon but I have officially given up hope for our club under this current regime.. Will be back to playing footy on the weekend next year rather than watching the arrogance and ineptitude of kean.

Riggers, to be honest i feel exactly the same as you. I don't feel any sort of emotional attachment to Rovers like i used to Pre Venkys. I know people will tell me i am not a proper fan if this is how i feel, but i have both supported and loved Rovers for the last 35 years, regardless of what league we were in. If i could get a refund on my season ticket, then, like you, i would. As it stands at the moment, there is not a cat in hells chance that i will be getting one next season. I'll be at The Anchor Ground instead.

[JAL]

Glen, i'd like you to open up about what Agnew was implying on focusing your attentions higher up the food chain, with the board, committee, owners, advisors, whoever they are, if possible.

[SAS]

Very controversial post.

And if true regarding PA, then he really is the tea boy licking arse, to get on.

[seanc88]

Glen you'll always have my support on this issue. The club have overstepped the mark too many times and yesterday was the final straw. They can dismiss us all they want but they'll never silence the truth.

[Brfcrule1]

Glen it is actually a compliment to you and your amazing group I class you & Simon as leaders of the movement to sack coco the clown because if you hadn't organised the group,met supporters to hear their concerns no-one else would have done as much and every praise must go to glen especially with the great plane idea I only hope the clowns who are running our club realise this & sack him soon.