[Archived] Transfer Talk Part 2

[Rover_Shaun]

I think you'd be suprised how much the last 3 years has enhanced his CV.

Besides, how do you know his wage packet?

The day will come when that will be proved true or false. I lean to the latter.

[JBiz]

I'm not sure it can be false- experience is big for any employer and prior to his job as manager here he had no experience of being top man.

Therefore his CV is greatly enhanced. Despite the skeptical pessimism that you're fluent in

[tomphil]

I would be surprised if Gary Bowyer isn't considering his future at the moment. If it is correct that he has had signings ready to arrive but is being prevented from doing so due to Venkys ineptitude or refusal to allow it then he might as well resign. His job is hard enough having to cut costs, reduce the squad size and keep the club towards the top end of this division. Now seemingly having players sold behind his back and not being able to replace them even with cheap/free transfers whilst being under an embargo would make his job almost impossible.

Again, if it is true that the manager cannot strengthen because of the owners behaviour then I think it answers the question of whether we could bring in a 'proven' manager who would put up with this shambles and manage to assemble a promotion winning squad. It simply wouldn't happen. We would be back to finding an unproven/lower league manager willing to take a risk and work under this joke setup.

Most would have quit months ago. Bowyer is one of the few that bring some pride and sense to this club these days, and I for one am grateful for that.

He's just rolled into another 12 months on his contract supposedly so he isn't going to wave bye bye to that. Doubt he's on a massive wage in football terms although you never know but he'll be on 2 or 3 times as much as he was when YT coach. He'll hang on as long as possible and things would have to get real bad before he'd bail. He seems the type that wouldn't hang around long if there was pressure from above and pressure from fans though.

Agree on the other point as if we step aside from the football stuff he really does seem like the only sane man at the club. As one of his critics I have to say his hands are tied now through not much fault of his own. Whilst a lot of us think he should have gone about a lot of stuff last season in better fashion this situation isn't of his making. Maybe we should appreciate him a bit more but he seems happy to live with it so he knows the score from both sides.

[davulsukur]

Do you even roll into a new rolling contract? I was under the impression the contract effectively never ends. Its just if we bin him off, no matter when, we pay him 12 months worth of contract.

Could be wrong though.

[West Yorks Rover]

He's just rolled into another 12 months on his contract supposedly so he isn't going to wave bye bye to that. Doubt he's on a massive wage in football terms although you never know but he'll be on 2 or 3 times as much as he was when YT coach. He'll hang on as long as possible and things would have to get real bad before he'd bail. He seems the type that wouldn't hang around long if there was pressure from above and pressure from fans though.

Agree on the other point as if we step aside from the football stuff he really does seem like the only sane man at the club. As one of his critics I have to say his hands are tied now through not much fault of his own. Whilst a lot of us think he should have gone about a lot of stuff last season in better fashion this situation isn't of his making. Maybe we should appreciate him a bit more but he seems happy to live with it so he knows the score from both sides.

Doubt he'll get much pressure from above and when/if it comes from the fans it will probably be quite tame.

I reckon he's here for a long while yet.

[Butty]

Do you even roll into a new rolling contract? I was under the impression the contract effectively never ends. Its just if we bin him off, no matter when, we pay him 12 months worth of contract.

Could be wrong though.

I was under the impression that at the end of the 12 months the owners have the option on whether or not to extend the contract for a further 12 months or not, meaning that at the end of this season he could have left without rovers having to pay anything compensation wise. I really don't know whether that's right though haha

[broadsword]

Do you even roll into a new rolling contract? I was under the impression the contract effectively never ends. Its just if we bin him off, no matter when, we pay him 12 months worth of contract.

Could be wrong though.

Great contract to give to a rookie manager, d'oh!

[Stuart]

Sounds like you're going down the route of "the owners wouldn't have spent the money better" argument. Something, when JB says the same thing about Bowyer, you vehemently disagree with.

We've been over the Rhodes thing time and again. The facts are out there, and I t was during a time when there were different pressures at the club from opposing forces. You could almost call it a rogue purchase - but it was part of what stopped the rot because without Rhodes' goals that first season, we were on our way down. I can't see it any other way.

The trouble with this debate, and this isn't just a pop at you, den, is that people want it both ways. They say we are stable and the Venkys influencers have left and that Bowyer is a big part of that stability. But then suggest that Bowyer could be replaced and people hark back to Venkys won't do anything different than they did before this new age of stability. It's one or the other.

[tomphil]

Do you even roll into a new rolling contract? I was under the impression the contract effectively never ends. Its just if we bin him off, no matter when, we pay him 12 months worth of contract.

Could be wrong though.

There must be a date from when the first ones signed with something like a cancellation period or something every 12 months surely. Otherwise it's like an unofficial lifetime contract

[martonrover]

The silence from Brockhall and Ewood Park is as loud as the silence from Pune.

Reason - Bowyer and Shaw are more bothered about keeping their jobs than they are about the club.

As for Myers, it's gone beyond a joke.

If they're going to employ a Communications Director he/she should at least make the effort to communicate.

[OscarRaven]

There must be a date from when the first ones signed with something like a cancellation period or something every 12 months surely. Otherwise it's like an unofficial lifetime contract

Otherwise known as a standard contract of employment with a 12 month notice period. Quite common for key employee's in any big business.

I think its an improvement and works for us better than a fixed term contract, I doubt many other mangers would agree to what basically amounts to a 1 year deal.

[davulsukur]

There must be a date from when the first ones signed with something like a cancellation period or something every 12 months surely. Otherwise it's like an unofficial lifetime contract

Correct but it safeguards both parties to a degree. We only ever have to pay him 12 months Max (and minimum) and not like 3-5 years worth and he always gets something, so he can't be sacked with a month left and get nothing but his wage.

As I said, I'm not sure, could very well be wrong.

[Mercer]

The verdict from the judicial review was due last month but due to complexity of the case and the possible ramifications it has been delayed indefinitely, so now it could be months.

It is hard to second guess what Venky's will do. Maybe they are working on an exit strategy but it could also be just as likely that they aren't and will eventually get around to making decisions which will allow Gary to bring in new faces. They have previous form in this when they delayed making decisions and everyone thought that they were looking to sell but then they suddenly gave authorisation and we bought in likes of Evans, Cairney and Marshall.

If Venky's were my client and based upon what I presently understand, I would be advising them that under current circumstances the club is 'unsellable'. Mitigate your losses by using the transfer window, get out what you can and let events take their natural course. I think insolvency would follow within weeks.

Their behaviour this summer so far, and it's difficult to see this suddenly changing 10 weeks or so after last season ended, suggests to me that their strategy is fixed and it's time to fasten your seat belts.

Be guarded - rolling contracts are not quite what is commonly understood. The devil is in the detail (caveats).

[tomphil]

If Venky's were my client and based upon what I presently understand, I would be advising them that under current circumstances the club is 'unsellable'. Mitigate your losses by using the transfer window, get out what you can and let events take their natural course. I think insolvency would follow within weeks.

Their behaviour this summer, so far and it's difficult to see this suddenly changing 10 weeks or so after last season ended, suggests to me that their strategy is fixed and it's time to fasten your seat belts.

Worryingly they might be happy with the way things are now going and are happy to let those at Ewood get on with it. If they were presented with a plan a couple of years ago to sign a few cheap players and stack assets into the club by just giving them games and increasing the squad value then having FFP to all hide behind. A player has been cashed to pay the bills over summer etc and no pressure on them to spend or do anything really. Just leave the club to plod, cash another in Jan possibily and the plan is working, no need for them to bother with anything for now

[Roverall]

Interesting comments, Mercer.

I know you have long predicted a meltdown, what makes you think it is so impending? Is this based on your professional experience? How sure are you this is going to come to pass?

Sorry for all the questions, am not savvy on the financial ins-and-outs and so reading about the situation in 'layman's terms' is helpful...

[West Yorks Rover]

If Venky's were my client and based upon what I presently understand, I would be advising them that under current circumstances the club is 'unsellable'. Mitigate your losses by using the transfer window, get out what you can and let events take their natural course. I think insolvency would follow within weeks.

Their behaviour this summer, so far and it's difficult to see this suddenly changing 10 weeks or so after last season ended, suggests to me that their strategy is fixed and it's time to fasten your seat belts.

Be guarded - rolling contracts are not quite what is commonly understood. The devil is in the detail (caveats).

The acid test will be if someone puts a circa £10m bid in for Rhodes, and this time they decide to sell.

I say Rhodes because Rudy will go anyway.

[Roverall]

I echo tomphils fears... The nightmare scenario is that the goons keep us on life support for years to come to 'save face' while showing the same disregard to the club and fans...

[RevidgeBlue]

If Venky's were my client and based upon what I presently understand, I would be advising them that under current circumstances the club is 'unsellable'. Mitigate your losses by using the transfer window, get out what you can and let events take their natural course. I think insolvency would follow within weeks.

Their behaviour this summer so far, and it's difficult to see this suddenly changing 10 weeks or so after last season ended, suggests to me that their strategy is fixed and it's time to fasten your seat belts.

Be guarded - rolling contracts are not quite what is commonly understood. The devil is in the detail (caveats).

If Venky's were my client and based upon what I presently understand, I would be advising them that under current circumstances the club is 'unsellable'. Mitigate your losses by using the transfer window, get out what you can and let events take their natural course. I think insolvency would follow within weeks.

Their behaviour this summer so far, and it's difficult to see this suddenly changing 10 weeks or so after last season ended, suggests to me that their strategy is fixed and it's time to fasten your seat belts.

Be guarded - rolling contracts are not quite what is commonly understood. The devil is in the detail (caveats).

Especially if you're Watford hoping in vain to get a deal on the cheap for Gestede it seems.

[tomphil]

I don't think it's a coincidence that as soon as the parachute payments all but dry up a decent player gets sold. Not one who needed shifting because of Prem style wages and one who the gaffer seemed to like and started him most of the time. Some plan or other is definitely coming into play.

[RevidgeBlue]

Gary had been hoping to tie up a couple of deals by now but at the moment he and the rest of the club are STILL waiting to hear back from the owners about whether they are allowed to sign players.

It is frankly ridiculous that we seem to be back in a situation where the decision making in Pune takes an age, 18 months ago decisions were being quickly but looks like we are back to dithering in Pune. In our position where we are scrabbling around in the bargain basement/loan market we need to be able to make decisions quickly as otherwise we will lose out on players.

How does that accusation square up with the fact that the trialists have been allowed to fly out with the rest of the squad?

Surely someone must have given the green light tor that to happen. You don't really think Bowyer invited them on trial or took them away without checking with the owners first do you?

Edit: I think it's far more likely GB is erring on the side of caution as whilst mistakes in the transfer market are not ideal at the best of times, we can afford them even less in our current situation. Shopping in the bargain basement it's less likely you'll strike lucky every time and he wouldn't appearto be the most adventurous of blokes at the best of times.

[Mercer]

Interesting comments, Mercer.

I know you have long predicted a meltdown, what makes you think it is so impending? Is this based on your professional experience? How sure are you this is going to come to pass?

Sorry for all the questions, am not savvy on the financial ins-and-outs and so reading about the situation in 'layman's terms' is helpful...

Their inactivity since the season ended strongly suggests to me that they have given up on the club.

If you are trying to sell a business, you at least action 'low cost maintenance' in order to keep the infrastructure and key operational areas ticking over thereby, at the very least, maintaining value. From what I understand, there are areas of bemusement and frustration within the club.

This state of affairs simply can't continue for too much longer. I am 90% certain the next steps are fairly inevitable - if I was Rovers' FD, I would be 99% certain.

How does that accusation square up with the fact that the trialists have been allowed to fly out with the rest of the squad?

Surely someone must have given the green light tor that to happen. You don't really think Bowyer took them without checking with the owners first do you?

Yes.

Even Shelfy will be authorised to sanction the extra few hundred quid necessary to take each additional trialist.

[RevidgeBlue]

Their inactivity since the season ended strongly suggests to me that they have given up on the club.

If you are trying to sell a business, you at least action 'low cost maintenance' in order to keep the infrastructure and key operational areas ticking over thereby, at the very least, maintaining value. From what I understand, there are areas of bemusement and frustration within the club.

This state of affairs simply can't continue for too much longer. I am 90% certain the next steps are fairly inevitable - if I was Rovers' FD, I would be 99% certain.

Yes.

Even Shelfy will be authorised to sanction the extra few hundred quid necessary to take each additional trialist.

Ah, so Shaw has authority to act independently of the owners when the argument suits, but not when it doesn't.

I see.

[windymiller7]

My God this summer is sooooooo boring, I've never know it be so quiet on the transfer news front. I even went on the LT website to see if they'd anything interesting.

They're even that bored that they've done a Rovers quiz (I'd post a link but believe me, it's really not worth the effort).

8 Questions - must've been up all night creating it then eh?

For what it's worth, I got 7 and the only one I missed was who wore No.26 last season.

So, did anything happen whilst I was typing that?.......

[TBTF]

My God this summer is sooooooo boring, I've never know it be so quiet on the transfer news front. I even went on the LT website to see if they'd anything interesting.

They're even that bored that they've done a Rovers quiz (I'd post a link but believe me, it's really not worth the effort).

8 Questions - must've been up all night creating it then eh?

For what it's worth, I got 7 and the only one I missed was who wore No.26 last season.

So, did anything happen whilst I was typing that?.......

Yes -have you not heard Windy? rather than sign new players this Summer the new charm offensive is to slowly release the names of those who aren't leaving. So lets all rush down to the Club shop and buy our ''Marshall '' shirts then we can all celebrate him not going. Much more fun than the old days where you had to just get a Shearer one and have done with it. I have just got one with ''Trialist'' on then it wont go out of date and an ordered an Away shirt with ''Loan'' on but apparently wont be in stock until after 31st August when Window shuts!!!

Joking apart though pal , I totally agree with you- I have renewed and I barely understand why.

Can see it now on Jeff Stelling when teleprinter flashes up 'GOAL'' for Blackburn scored by A Trialist , like those part time Scottish low life teams like Alfeckinchinye United.

[JHRover]

The Venky strategy of stopping spending does seem to make sense, but for one thing - Leon Best.

Why sanction a multi million pay off for him if they have had enough and are looking to dump the club? They could just ignore Best and continue with the head in sand approach, but they presumably consented to the spend to get rid of him.