[Archived] How Blackburn have collapsed into chaos

[JAL]

Interesting blog from Wayne. Anderson seems to confirm the impression I got from his Sky interview that whilst he did some work for the owners at one point he is now making a point of trying to distance himself from them which is somewhat worrying.

Unfortunately for Anderson he cant get away from the fact that Steve Kean is his client.

Guilty M'lord.

[RevidgeBlue]

Here we go again.

When the Walker Trust owned us we were in the top half of the league and were never hassled by the bank. Our current problems are entirely down to the Venkys, Kean and Anderson.

Absolute rubbish. We narrowly avoided relegation under Souness, and in Allardyce's first season as a result of Ince's spell in charge and spent most of Sam's second season in and around the bottom three until a strong finish propelled us to a best of the season tenth position on the final day. Allardyce did extremely well bearing in min the restrictions placed upon him but If he had had to continue to rely on signings like Benjani and MB Diouf until the end of the season, our Premiership tenure would still have been relatively brief.

I agree the Bank seem rightly or wrongly to be taking a considerably dimmer view of the current owners than the last ones and seem to be trying to drastically reduce our overall borrowing facility. This begs the question that if the Bank have such obvious concerns, why did the previous owners, who had the opportunity to carry out as much due diligence as they wanted, not share those concerns?

[RevidgeBlue]

We were a comfortable and stable mid table club a little over a year ago. How on earth are the Trust the 'root cause of most of our problems' (I would agree if by that you meant in selling up to Venky's)

You are so one eyed you are embarrassing yourself.

They are the root cause of our problems because they lost interest in us a long time ago and as a result there has been no investment in the squad for many years. It's so obvious a blind man on a galloping horse could see it but no-one seems to want to say it presumably because the Trustees (whoever they were) had a link to the late great Jack Walker.

A great manager in Mark Hughes was driven away, Savage suffered a terminal injury and wasn't replaced. Tugay was forced to play well beyond his natural sell by date and wasn't replaced and by way of example we went from a situation where we had forwards like RSC, McCarthy, Roberts and Derbyshire to a situation last season when a much older Roberts was our primary striker.

Still if you think I'm being "one eyed" it's your prerogative.

[Mattyblue]

They are the root cause of our problems because they lost interest in us a long time ago and as a result there has been no investment in the squad for many years. It's so obvious a blind man on a galloping horse could see it but no-one seems to want to say it presumably because the Trustees (whoever they were) had a link to the late great Jack Walker.

A great manager in Mark Hughes was driven away, Savage suffered a terminal injury and wasn't replaced. Tugay was forced to play well beyond his natural sell by date and wasn't replaced and by way of example we went from a situation where we had forwards like RSC, McCarthy, Roberts and Derbyshire to a situation last season when a much older Roberts was our primary striker.

Still if you think I'm being "one eyed" it's your prerogative.

We had completely stagnated as a football club, however as we could still pay competitive wages, had Messers Finn, Williams and Allardyce on board, mid table finishes were achievable year in year out.

A year later we have seen a stable club become the basket case of football and have been invovled in two relegation battles.

This is donw to the owners and the owners alone.

[thenodrog]

Thanks Hasta

That would make a great signature.

[Amo]

Even if Venky's/JA/Kean et al are the chief culprits for the demise of this club, that doesn't mean that the blame cannot be portioned to other parties involved in the state of affairs. The Trust neglected the club, doing the absolute minimum to keep the club going and providing no real investment on the pitch, which led to Hughes's disillusion with the club. They were also one of the key reasons the club was sold so cheaply, and why the jokers like Venky's could afford us in the first place. And I still don't think Williams & Finn should get a free pass for selling their silence when they evidently had concerns about the way the club was being run.

[thenodrog]

They are the root cause of our problems because they lost interest in us a long time ago and as a result there has been no investment in the squad for many years. It's so obvious a blind man on a galloping horse could see it but no-one seems to want to say it presumably because the Trustees (whoever they were) had a link to the late great Jack Walker.

A great manager in Mark Hughes was driven away, Savage suffered a terminal injury and wasn't replaced. Tugay was forced to play well beyond his natural sell by date and wasn't replaced and by way of example we went from a situation where we had forwards like RSC, McCarthy, Roberts and Derbyshire to a situation last season when a much older Roberts was our primary striker.

Still if you think I'm being "one eyed" it's your prerogative.

Simon why do you (and others) still choose to employ the term 'investment' in Premier League discussion and comment? I just don't get it. Investments require a return of some sort. Here.... http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/investment?q=investment

Any 'investment' into BRFC would have been good money thrown after bad. Alan Sugar's Prune Juice theory revisited. The majority of supporters won't even invest more than a measly £200 per annum in the club will they? God only knows how many ST's we'd sell if even the Pre average ST price was charged. The Trust have no requirement for advertising or marketing like the Venkeymob and they knew full well that BRFC is a loss making lame duck and so the Trust got rid. Given that the Trust's primary raison d'etre is to look after Jacks and Fred's children it's fair enough isn't it? If you were administering the Trust and you chucked millions the way of BRFC I'm afraid I'd would have to seriously question your ability. Best they could do was find mugs who were daft enough to promise that they could and would put money into the club.

[thenodrog]

Even if Venky's/JA/Kean et al are the chief culprits for the demise of this club, that doesn't mean that the blame cannot be portioned to other parties involved in the state of affairs. The Trust neglected the club, doing the absolute minimum to keep the club going and providing no real investment on the pitch, which led to Hughes's disillusion with the club. They were also one of the key reasons the club was sold so cheaply, and why the jokers like Venky's could afford us in the first place. And I still don't think Williams & Finn should get a free pass for selling their silence when they evidently had concerns about the way the club was being run.

Topman ... How about you answering the question which I posed to Rev Blue about if you were running the Trust?

Fact is the Trust initially wanted over 60m when Hughes was here. We were in Europe, we had some seriously valuable talent on the books and we were performing well in football terms. Guess what? No fecker would take us on would they?

[Amo]

Topman ... How about you answering the question which I posed to Rev Blue about if you were running the Trust?

Fact is the Trust initially wanted over 60m when Hughes was here. We were in Europe, we had some seriously valuable talent on the books and we were performing well in football terms. Guess what? No fecker would take us on would they?

So the answer was obviously to devalue the club and flog it to a bunch of cockeyed Indians?

[yoda]

thenodrog, on 21 January 2012 - 21:23 PM, said:Topman ... How about you answering the question which I posed to Rev Blue about if you were running the Trust?

Fact is the Trust initially wanted over 60m when Hughes was here. We were in Europe, we had some seriously valuable talent on the books and we were performing well in football terms. Guess what? No fecker would take us on would they?

So the answer was obviously to devalue the club and flog it to a bunch of cockeyed Indians?

and it worked!

I wonder what the Venkys exit strategy is

[Amo]

and it worked!

Jack would be proud.

[Parsonblue]

The simple FACT that those who decry the efforts of the Trust cannot overcome is that they provided the club with the longest spell of top flight football since 1936. Suggestions that the Trust would have relegated us eventually are mere guesswork. The reality is that we survived longer in the top division under the Trust than at anytime since before the Second World War.

Desai and her clan almost got us relegated during the first few months of their tenure. Now, twelve months on, they seem likely to bring an end to the fabulous job that the Trust did in delivering top flight football year in and year out.

Is it any wonder that Desai and the Brothers Grimm do not come anywhere near the club? They like to boast of the Charity work they do in India, and fair play to them for that, however they seem unaware of the impact that relegation will have on the local economy of Blackburn.

Unfortunately, this woman has given no indication of any feeling for the club, the town or the people of Blackburn. The quicker we are rid of these owners the better but, sadly, I suspect we will be stuck with them for some time to come and I dread to think what state (or division) the club might be in when they finally cut and run.

[EwoodDawn]

The simple FACT that those who decry the efforts of the Trust cannot overcome is that they provided the club with the longest spell of top flight football since 1936. Suggestions that the Trust would have relegated us eventually are mere guesswork. The reality is that we survived longer in the top division under the Trust than at anytime since before the Second World War.

Desai and her clan almost got us relegated during the first few months of their tenure. Now, twelve months on, they seem likely to bring an end to the fabulous job that the Trust did in delivering top flight football year in and year out.

Is it any wonder that Desai and the Brothers Grimm do not come anywhere near the club? They like to boast of the Charity work they do in India, and fair play to them for that, however they seem unaware of the impact that relegation will have on the local economy of Blackburn.

Unfortunately, this woman has given no indication of any feeling for the club, the town or the people of Blackburn. The quicker we are rid of these owners the better but, sadly, I suspect we will be stuck with them for some time to come and I dread to think what state (or division) the club might be in when they finally cut and run.

Plus infinity

[47er]

Simon why do you (and others) still choose to employ the term 'investment' in Premier League discussion and comment? I just don't get it. Investments require a return of some sort. Here.... http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/investment?q=investment

Any 'investment' into BRFC would have been good money thrown after bad. Alan Sugar's Prune Juice theory revisited. The majority of supporters won't even invest more than a measly £200 per annum in the club will they? God only knows how many ST's we'd sell if even the Pre average ST price was charged. The Trust have no requirement for advertising or marketing like the Venkeymob and they knew full well that BRFC is a loss making lame duck and so the Trust got rid. Given that the Trust's primary raison d'etre is to look after Jacks and Fred's children it's fair enough isn't it? If you were administering the Trust and you chucked millions the way of BRFC I'm afraid I'd would have to seriously question your ability. Best they could do was find mugs who were daft enough to promise that they could and would put money into the club.

To be fair Theno, investment is not simply related to finance. You can invest in your children, for example, by caring for them and trying to give them a set of standards to live up to.

In this sense investment means putting something in to create a beneficial outcome.

So, if Rovers had invested in their squad as they should have when we had Hughes as manager, we would (I'm sure) be a top 8 club now. That's not to say the owners would have made money out of it though.

Very hard to make money out of Rovers. Run to its maximum efficiency we might break even or come close. Any future owner,and I discount the present incumbents, need to own a club as a matter of love or failing that prestige/interest/a challenge. Profit can't really be a consideration.

That's why its so hard to find anyone decent. Where's those Australians (rumoured to be interested in buying us at the time) when you need them? They like a good scrap!

[jim mk2]

They are the root cause of our problems because they lost interest in us a long time ago and as a result there has been no investment in the squad for many years. It's so obvious a blind man on a galloping horse could see it but no-one seems to want to say it presumably because the Trustees (whoever they were) had a link to the late great Jack Walker.

A great manager in Mark Hughes was driven away, Savage suffered a terminal injury and wasn't replaced. Tugay was forced to play well beyond his natural sell by date and wasn't replaced and by way of example we went from a situation where we had forwards like RSC, McCarthy, Roberts and Derbyshire to a situation last season when a much older Roberts was our primary striker.

Still if you think I'm being "one eyed" it's your prerogative.

The Trust are not the "root cause" of the problems because although they failed to invest in players in the latter years they did not interfere in the running of the club. We now have owners who are also failing to invest in players but have dismantled the structure of the club. It's speculative I know but in view of the richers on offer don't you think Hughes might have left for Man City anyway ?

It's also speculative but quite likely that that had the Trust still been in charge Sam Allardyce would still be at Ewood and we would not be facing relegation now.

When comparing the Trust and Venky's the Trust win hands down every time.

[Devon Rover]

The Trust are not the "root cause" of the problems because although they failed to invest in players in the latter years they did not interfere in the running of the club. We now have owners who are also failing to invest in players but have dismantled the structure of the club. It's speculative I know but in view of the richers on offer don't you think Hughes might have left for Man City anyway ?

It's also speculative but quite likely that that had the Trust still been in charge Sam Allardyce would still be at Ewood and we would not be facing relegation now.

When comparing the Trust and Venky's the Trust win hands down every time.

I agree with each of these points.

The Trust were not ideal owners by any means but they were far from the worst ones out there and much, much better than what has replaced them.

[bestierover]

Even if Venky's/JA/Kean et al are the chief culprits for the demise of this club, that doesn't mean that the blame cannot be portioned to other parties involved in the state of affairs. The Trust neglected the club, doing the absolute minimum to keep the club going and providing no real investment on the pitch, which led to Hughes's disillusion with the club. They were also one of the key reasons the club was sold so cheaply, and why the jokers like Venky's could afford us in the first place. And I still don't think Williams & Finn should get a free pass for selling their silence when they evidently had concerns about the way the club was being run.

What a load of twaddle you constantly spout. Please, give it a rest.

[glen9mullan]

My opinion RE the Trust,

When Jack died they inherited something which was his passion, they kept a great administration running the club, with a break even mentality,

They did not share Jacks passion and did not want to bank roll the club like Jack did, however we are still witnessing Jacks dream weekly as more players come through our academy.

When Venkys came calling the Walkers Trust were not to know that they was selling to the wrong people, Venkys paid cash for Rovers and said all the right things to the trust, the board and the supporters.

I don't personally blame the trust, I'm sure many people on these boards have inherited things in the past like houses etc and sold them. I'm sure the Walkers trust are deeply annoyed what has become of Blackburn Rovers since the sale, but sadly they can't influence the future.

I remember my first car, I washed and polished it daily, it was my pride and joy, then I sold it. Only to see it a few months later battered and bruised and ready for the knackers yard. I was disappointed that it has been ruined by the purchaser, but at the time I thought he has paid the asking price and seems a genuine sort

[Amo]

What a load of twaddle you constantly spout. Please, give it a rest.

Sorry, who are you? And why should I care what you think?

[bestierover]

I am the messiah. And a very naughty boy!

Sick of the Trust bashing is all. Entirely unnecessary in my view.

[Amo]

I am the messiah. And a very naughty boy!

Sick of the Trust bashing is all. Entirely unnecessary in my view.

They played their part.

[bestierover]

They played their part.

Nah. They followed their mandate and some. Suggesting they should have poured money into a bottomless pit ad infinitum is tantamount to emulating the behaviour of a spoilt infant.

[Amo]

Nah. They followed their mandate and some. Suggesting they should have poured money into a bottomless pit ad infinitum is tantamount to emulating the behaviour of a spoilt infant.

Do you think Jack would be happy the inheritors entrusted with his legacy devalued the club and sold it to the first dodgy foreigners who could stump up the cash?

I sure don't.

[bestierover]

Do you think Jack would be happy the inheritors entrusted with his legacy devalued the club and sold it to the first dodgy foreigners who could stump up the cash?

I sure don't.

Are you not open to the possibility that the trust had limited funds to maintain that legacy (in accordance with their instructions) and thus genuinely thought that a new owner would be better placed to take the club forward? It cannot be discounted.

[thenodrog]

Do you think Jack would be happy the inheritors entrusted with his legacy devalued the club and sold it to the first dodgy foreigners who could stump up the cash?

I sure don't.

They didn't.

Topman you are sounding a little immature, a lot churlish and really spoiled. Under the Trust we got promoted back to the Prem, won the Worthy cup, had numerous encounters in Europe, figured in some memorable semi finals and genarally finished top half of the Prem. We were lucky to be able to watch real quality in the likes of Tugay, Friedel, Bellamy, Berkovitch, Macarthy, Duff, Bentley, Samba etc. Name any other club away from the big city clubs who could boast that record? In fact lots of the big city clubs will envy our record. Quite by coincidence we played one such club today and there's another due to turn up a week Wednesday.