[Archived] Is It Time To Protest Against Venkys?

[roverandout]

Too many people on here Dick waving

[yoda]

Banned on entry

There you go bringing sex into it and lowering the tone of the MB

[Athlete]

Venkys have destroyed this club

Gates are declining year on year

They have sold the last hero whom the kids looked up to

The only way out of the financial mess is major investment in the summer the likelihood of that happening is looking like a big fat zero

I personally am starting to believe a charltonesque protest maybe the only tool the fans will have left

[BlueMonday]

A mass walkout at half time or every Rovers fan turning their back on the pitch at some point in a match for 5 mins.

Only gestures, but it will get Venkys attention if it gets coverage.

Passive acceptance certainly won't get it done.

[ABBEY]

I'm up for it but remember even at the peak many fans blamed the protests and NOT venkys or Kean . Us who protested got the blame both on here and at games . There was a ten minute chant of venkys out for the last ten mins v Wigan and that was it . A few got on the pitch some got stopped and that was it .

Fights and massive arguments happened in the stands and outside ... Would it work ? Yes if everyone joined in . Will everyone join in , can imagine quite a few on here who would still blame protests and even if venkys sold us to Burnley they would still blame fans .

[tomphil]

There's a chance it may catch on a bit more now we are going to be left with about 9k diehards in the ground for the remaining games.

I'd call for a proper boycott of a game to send out a stark warning to them what will happen next season if they don't give this manager some sort of backing. With the emphasis of the boycott being 'tell us & him what the hell is happening' . I don't for one min believe that they still think ignorant silence doesn't lead to people thinking the worst.

They ain't that stupid but they probably still are that ignorant.

[JBiz]

Everyone's welcome to their opinion, mine is; protesting in the ground at this point will bring only one thing, relegation.

Need to support the playing staff, if people want to protest Venkys, use some ingenuity- an empty stadium or a atmosphere of boos will only hasten the decline IMO.

Reach out to a respected public figure, attempt to gain some level of mediation between owners and fans.

The reactionary running on pitch solves absolutely nothing in my view.

[AndyNeil]

Reach out to a respected public figure, attempt to gain some level of mediation between owners and fans.

has been tried and hasn't worked.

If I genuinely thought a mass walk out during the game would be supported by the few that are left, I'd join in however this MB isn't what it was and 10/20 people discussing on here just isn't going to translate into a couple of thousand people walking out during a match...

The owners don't attend matches, does any discontent amongst the fans actually ever get fed back to the owners - VERY much doubt it for fear of losing their job. So what is the answer? Christ knows, but I'd be absolutely staggered if A, you could get a decent number of people on here to agree to the best course of action B, getting the message out there to enough people and most importantly C, enough people actually going through with it.

[Athlete]

Everyone's welcome to their opinion, mine is; protesting in the ground at this point will bring only one thing, relegation.

Need to support the playing staff, if people want to protest Venkys, use some ingenuity- an empty stadium or a atmosphere of boos will only hasten the decline IMO.

Reach out to a respected public figure, attempt to gain some level of mediation between owners and fans.

The reactionary running on pitch solves absolutely nothing in my view.

A empty stadium when we're mathematical safe will speak volumes

[47er]

I said years ago that if Rovers played a home game and nobody turned up, Venkys would be gone within weeks.

But look at JBiz's reactions!

We mustn't protest because it would lead to relegation so we stand by and hurtle to extinction instead!

Need to distinguish between short-term and long-term issues JB.

[ChrisyG]

Tennis balls on the pitch from all sides of the ground.

[JBiz]

I said years ago that if Rovers played a home game and nobody turned up, Venkys would be gone within weeks.

But look at JBiz's reactions!

We mustn't protest because it would lead to relegation so we stand by and hurtle to extinction instead!

Need to distinguish between short-term and long-term issues JB.

They've proven that they do not listen to protests, and those style protests only have one actual effect and that is worse results.

I gave one example of a way, I'm not particularly creative in terms of this thing, but there are other ways;

For instance, get someone "famous" involved in finding the answer, who gets the tv or airtime to stir up discussion. Rockstar, film star, documentary maker etc whatever.

There are plenty of other alternatives, something based in Pune would make sense - crowd fund a new club owner protest group, that covers all clubs and challenges how these businesses can be run.

I'm sure there are some really clever politically minded people who could give you much better ideas, I just can't change my opinion that boycotts, protesting during games and a horrid atmosphere has one outcome with Venkys; poorer results.

A empty stadium when we're mathematical safe will speak volumes

Properly organised as a one off at end of season, including a pledge to boycott season tickets unless a proper plan is spelt out to fans?

The problem is, we don't want words. We want actions. Can we really demand that they put more money in by taking our money out?

[Leonard Venkhater]

I'm up for it but remember even at the peak many fans blamed the protests and NOT venkys or Kean . Us who protested got the blame both on here and at games . There was a ten minute chant of venkys out for the last ten mins v Wigan and that was it . A few got on the pitch some got stopped and that was it .

Fights and massive arguments happened in the stands and outside ... Would it work ? Yes if everyone joined in . Will everyone join in , can imagine quite a few on here who would still blame protests and even if venkys sold us to Burnley they would still blame fans .

I think the situation is different in a number of ways.The supporter base seems more unified in their analysis of what is going on than previously. However, they are also worn down to despair or apathy.

We must also remember that a lot of supporters didn't read this message board back in the early days of the reign of terror and many still don;t read it now. And don't underestimate the natural victim denial/defence mechanism of "this can't be happening/they wouldn't really destroy us", often translated into "Venky's were naive". I still hear that now!!

If it does all come to a head in the summer and Lambert is not backed etc, the supporters will need some strong, hearts and minds leadership and a sign up to explicit aims, objectives and strategy.

Stand by! The lull ’twixt blast and blast

Signals the storm is near, not past;

And worse than present jeopardy

May our forlorn to-morrow be.

If we have cleared the expectant reef,

Let no man look for his relief.

Only the darkness hides the shape

Of further peril to escape.

[gumboots]

They already have season ticket money in though. I really am clueless when it comes to getting through to the clueless ones. They don't care, don't listen, don't want to take the steps that just might see improvement. They refuse to talk to the manager; the guy whose job it supposedly was to communicate has nothing to communicate; the club has the best manager it's had in 5 years and certainly the strongest management team, but nothing and nobody running the club. What next? Who knows and it's reaching the point where who cares because whatever we say and whatever we do the attitude of our owners, pig headed obstinate refusal to behave in any way that might actually be in the best interests of the club, makes no difference whatsoever. They continue to close their eyes and ears to good advice and to the pleas of the manager. How do we get through to them? I don't think anyone would except perhaps for the queen herself.perhaps I'll write to her

[Gav]

Everyone's welcome to their opinion, mine is; protesting in the ground at this point will bring only one thing, relegation.

Need to support the playing staff, if people want to protest Venkys, use some ingenuity- an empty stadium or a atmosphere of boos will only hasten the decline IMO.

Reach out to a respected public figure, attempt to gain some level of mediation between owners and fans.

The reactionary running on pitch solves absolutely nothing in my view.

Under Venkys tenure we've been relegated and we've got an empty stadium compared to when they took over. We've never been closer to division 3 since we last played in it back in the 70's.

I understand the sentiment jbizzle, but it's far to late in the piece now to worry about those things.

But nothing will happen, fans don't have a desire to protest, it's just a case of sitting back and letting this play out. Lambert could walk and still nothing will happen, I firmly believe that only relegation again would tip the scale, I don't want that, but if it got rid of the idiots from Pune I'd take it now.

[yoda]

They already have season ticket money in though. I really am clueless when it comes to getting through to the clueless ones. They don't care, don't listen, don't want to take the steps that just might see improvement. They refuse to talk to the manager; the guy whose job it supposedly was to communicate has nothing to communicate; the club has the best manager it's had in 5 years and certainly the strongest management team, but nothing and nobody running the club. What next? Who knows and it's reaching the point where who cares because whatever we say and whatever we do the attitude of our owners, pig headed obstinate refusal to behave in any way that might actually be in the best interests of the club, makes no difference whatsoever. They continue to close their eyes and ears to good advice and to the pleas of the manager. How do we get through to them? I don't think anyone would except perhaps for the queen herself.perhaps I'll write to her

The problem with a protest is getting every one onboard with a clear message. i.e. is it Venky's out, please install a CEO, please put another 100 million quid into the club etc and other issues that the supporters may want to be highlighted.

In short any protest will need the same leadership to make it effective that the club needs to make it effective again.

I don't know who that person would be.

[VinjayV4]

They already have season ticket money in though. I really am clueless when it comes to getting through to the clueless ones. They don't care, don't listen, don't want to take the steps that just might see improvement. They refuse to talk to the manager; the guy whose job it supposedly was to communicate has nothing to communicate; the club has the best manager it's had in 5 years and certainly the strongest management team, but nothing and nobody running the club. What next? Who knows and it's reaching the point where who cares because whatever we say and whatever we do the attitude of our owners, pig headed obstinate refusal to behave in any way that might actually be in the best interests of the club, makes no difference whatsoever. They continue to close their eyes and ears to good advice and to the pleas of the manager. How do we get through to them? I don't think anyone would except perhaps for the queen herself.perhaps I'll write to her

Sorry but...

Liz has already met them by the way. Even she has to associate with idiots now and then.

I really have no answer regarding the protests. All we do to be honest is go over the same things and that just builds the frustration. Glen Mullan was frustrated on twitter the other day and this is a guy who really tried to do something. Like I said to him though what are we supposed to do...kill them? Never really felt anyone would attack Kean either (he knew that himself bodyguard all for show) though not going to deny hoping somebody would at least take a swing at him. I feel bad not trying to do more myself but not going into all that again. If you don't do anything does that make us cowards? The only protests I can think of unfortunately end in arrests. Should people be willing to get arrested? I'm not (other than the one instance I was fortunate not to be) so how can I tell anyone else to risk that? Especially those who have wife/kids and put them ahead of the club.

Since the "Qatar flags" idea was ignored though (and I'm saying ignored because that's what happened) kinda realised nobody is going to take up one of my suggestions. Still there's no doubt I'll probably try to suggest things again its just my nature. Certainly not the suggestions that would risk arrests or bans...and I can't blame them because I'm not willing to do that myself. Only way I could see something is if a few fans "light the spark" and more people join in. An instantaneous protest.

Charlton haven't done anything different other than make their voices heard. It won't work but what are we supposed to do sit and be silent like good little corporate puppets? Running on the pitch for no apparent reason (not saying they should have done something more illegal but what was the point of running on the pitch otherwise?) and releasing chickens isn't going to work. Also why I did see some people grinning and laughing during previous protests? Its not supposed to be "fun" the future of the club is an extremely serious issue.

Yes I know what the response is when it looks like I'm telling fans what to do. That point has been made it does not need to be made again. Not going to be accused of trying to get sympathy with my own responses though already gone into all that.

[Gav]

The problem with a protest is getting every one onboard with a clear message. i.e. is it Venky's out, please install a CEO, please put another 100 million quid into the club etc and other issues that the supporters may want to be highlighted.

In short any protest will need the same leadership to make it effective that the club needs to make it effective again.

I don't know who that person would be.

I would never ask anyone not to attend, we all have various reasons for going to Ewood that go beyond just watching the footy for 90 minutes.

But what I would say is if the situation gets any worse, fans should not buy season tickets, that will send a clear message to the owners that the fans are not happy, or at least the ones that still go!

It's only a small gesture, but one that could have a big impact.

[oldjamfan1]

Never really felt anyone would attack Kean either (he knew that himself bodyguard all for show) though not going to deny hoping somebody would at least take a swing at him.

I'm not advocating violence but I did genuinely think somebody would go for Kean, probably not at a match but more likely a chance encounter in a pub or restaurant. If he'd made any trips home to Glasgow and I'd bumped into him up here I would have found it hard not to have a go, to be honest, especially if I'd had a couple of sherberts myself.

No other manager or player has made me feel remotely like doing that, but Kean did. He brought the worst out in a lot of folk I think.

[VinjayV4]

I'm not advocating violence but I did genuinely think somebody would go for Kean, probably not at a match but more likely a chance encounter in a pub or restaurant. If he'd made any trips home to Glasgow and I'd bumped into him up here I would have found it hard not to have a go, to be honest, especially if I'd had a couple of sherberts myself.

No other manager or player has made me feel remotely like doing that, but Kean did. He brought the worst out in a lot of folk I think.

Suppose the closest it got to "violence" was the snowballs ironically at Venkys (given they are hardly ever here and when they are in a secure executive area) rather than Kean. Unfortunately they didn't even hit "madame", Balaji or third wheel. Hate to say it but occasionally I feel a tiny bit bad for third wheel he's probably been bullied around by "madame" and Balaji all his life. While Balaji only gets bullied by "madame".

[Tom]

There just isn't enough anger around to make a strong collective, most of us don't give the owners a second thought these days.

There was anger when we were relegated but even then I'm not sure what could have been done to sway them.

A few will scream Venkys out on a daily basis and that's well within their right but the fact that I haven't heard a single Venkys out chant for a couple of years tells you all you need to know about the general feeling towards them they are just there somewhere - not in the front of my mind.

that opinion would swing for some - me included if they force Lambert out by not backing him.

[den]

A couple of points....

1) protests aren't going to happen, because..........

2) the timing is all wrong.

At the moment we have people within the club prepared to stand up and air their concerns for the club in public. Hurray for that, much credit deserved there. It's been put to the owners that if they want this club to be successful, they have to change the way it's run. Hurray for that as well.

We don't know how Venkys will respond to this. Let's see

[mhead]

I do not want to 'turn off' supporters, because its really difficult/impossible to get them back.

And Unity is really difficult...even a similar thing to the tennis balls will only get limited press coverage.

We need something that attacks Venkys and its a real pity they have not got those Venky take-aways in the UK. They would soon know if they were picketed.

So it maybe needs 'silent' planning and then a stunt....

fly-past...Done before

banners....not news enough

Giant BRFC business plan..possible

BRFC Trust/Action group...Public Meeting with MPs etc....maybe

We cannot make them communicate. Its not our money to spend. Would a number of Rovers Supporters offer them 3mn between 10 of them to flush the Venky's out and get a seat on the Board ?

It would be better if 20,000 of us were on Ewood and making the protest than next season's 8,000(on paper)....how might we achieve that? This needs cunning planning.

But its not our money to spend and they have already wasted 100mn. Just what are they getting out of all this?????

[JohnD]

The simplest and most effective protest is to sit down on the steps and refuse to move.

No violence needed just a peaceful sit in.

It would take a lot of stewards/police to remove a few hundred protesters.

I'd expect the press to report on it and a few others to film the event

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Rovers fans are too passive for their own good.

Those who had the balls to protest at the beginning are mostly long gone after seeing the light.

A great deal of the fans still left are just happy to have somewhere to go on Saturdays!