[Archived] Lib Dem Leader In Scathing Attack On Venkys

[A cup of beans]

This is all I can find from Straw:

http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2012-05-10/premier-league-rejects-jack-straws-call-for-investigation-into-venkys-takeover-of-rovers/

Am I being unfair to suggest: Straw gave up pretty easy and could have done/ be doing more ?

[USABlue]

I met Jack Straw through work just when all the Anderson/Kean stuff was at its worst. We had a longish chat about it all and he was also scathing about the Trust's role in it and of course about Venkys but he never had the goolies to actually go public properly with his opinions. I couldn't imagine Alistair Campbell letting Venkys get away with doing similar to Burnley.

You must remember, politicians are much like the hierarchy at Ewood now. It's all about self preservation.

[Walney Blue]

Mr Straw tried, many times

Tim has brought the plight to the masses, for that we must rejoice as fans seem apathetic, resigned and even critical of dissenting voices.

Fan Platform = QA with Shaw, Bowyer and Mysers, surprise is more dissenting voices, criticism of event, vocal majority conspicuous by absence on thread, sad really.

[broadsword]

Thank God for Tim Farron.

Someone who has a platform to gain wider acknowledgement of what many fans must be feeling.

He's not made the problems go away, but he has spoken out and given vent.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about what's happened to us is that the masses have swallowed the propaganda and bad people have prospered at the expense of the club. It's a dark thought that they've perhaps gotten away with it. But I'm sure what they would like is for our troubles to go unremarked upon in public. So at least they're not having it all their own way.

[Mr. E]

Good point on the Walker Trust. The absolute lack of accountability and responsibility on their part for what has happened is still staggering to me....looks like if you have money, you are above all standards of ethics.

[yoda]

Good point on the Walker Trust. The absolute lack of accountability and responsibility on their part for what has happened is still staggering to me....looks like if you have money, you are above all standards of ethics.

Have you only just realised that !

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

The man has my respect..no nonsense and telling it like it really is.

[arbitro]

While I don't think any of us would disagree with his sentiments, a leading politician calling the owners "clueless", "idiots", "clowns" etc is not the sort of language you would particularly expect someone in his position to use, and he clearly isn't going down the diplomatic route.

I think I might have been trying to reach out to them a bit more in his position. If he was hoping for any sort of dialogue with them he can forget it now!

By the way, in response to an earlier poster, the Lib Dems, Labour and Conservative Parties here in Scotland would snap your hands off for 8 seats between them!!

I read it from the perspective of a frustrated, angry fan Andy, not a politician. He simply has access to the media many of us don't and used it.

[gumboots]

Why would he hope for dialogue with them anyway. They might talk to the royal family but anyone lower, forget it

[Leonard Venkhater]

Mr Straw tried, many times

Tim has brought the plight to the masses, for that we must rejoice as fans seem apathetic, resigned and even critical of dissenting voices.

Fan Platform = QA with Shaw, Bowyer and Mysers, surprise is more dissenting voices, criticism of event, vocal majority conspicuous by absence on thread, sad really.

Not me, mate.I refuse to consent to this dumbing down. I will not be reconciled into accepting the unacceptable.

I had gone cold turkey until Saturday, when I just couldn't resist.

For my first visit this season, I thought the terraces looked depressingly empty, which ( in my opinion)shows a great deal of dissent. The atmosphere was very poor. I still had the feeling that a Charlton equaliser would have resulted in more than a few Bowyer out chants....but we'll never know....

.What happened to Mr Straw's call for an investigation? Why hasn't Mr Farron spoken out before? Why don't certain celebrity ex players and managers speak out more? I heard John Williams has taken vows and become a Trappist....Even John Motson seemed to back off after saying"there is a well known agent involved" and that was during a 5 live documentary on the trouble at the club. Again, in the recent Kelly Cates championship anniversary programme-no mention.Zilch! Talk about a whole herd of Indian elephants in one room!

[Paul Mellelieu]

To be fair Jack Straw did work pretty tirelessly for the best interests if the club. I knew Tim back in the day when we were both involved in student politics. His wife, Rosie, used to post here.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

Don't think Pune take the Sun, won't make a jot of difference although nice of him to say it four years too late. Welcome to the club Tim, where have you been all this time?

[Baz]

Did anyone realise that Richard Matthewman, Jacks son-in-law is now part of Seneca, along with Ian Currie and Ian Battersby?

[Ste B]

I'm sure his new PR advisors have given him a makeover telling him to make himself look like a man of the people ahead of his first leaders speech.

[tomphil]

Did anyone realise that Richard Matthewman, Jacks son-in-law is now part of Seneca, along with Ian Currie and Ian Battersby?

Mentioned it a while ago but all he seems to do is tweet pics from holidaying in exotic places every week as does Howard Walker. Maybe a nice settlement contributed towards all that and softened the blow of er...parting from the club !

[chris_h]

Good point on the Walker Trust. The absolute lack of accountability and responsibility on their part for what has happened is still staggering to me....looks like if you have money, you are above all standards of ethics.

To have the leader of what is possibly still regarded as the third force in UK politics so scathingly criticise the Walker Trust and even personally call one of them out (One of Jack's offspring at that) is quite a shock.

If this doesn't startle the Trust out of their silence then probably nothing will.

[joey_big_nose]

Farrons language is very aggressive, but to be honest umpteen people have now reached out to Venkys and theyve not even given the courtesy of listening. Strong language is to be expected.

Good on him.

[oldjamfan1]

I read it from the perspective of a frustrated, angry fan Andy, not a politician. He simply has access to the media many of us don't and used it.

He's the leader of a major political party Tony (notwithstanding their poor results at the last election). I know he was speaking as a Rovers fan but once you get to those sort of positions the rules change unfortunately. Calling the people running a major foreign business silly names like that could come back to bite him and I can guarantee that the Lib Dem PR people would have had a word in his ear afterwards.

Perhaps if he'd used that media access to appeal to Venkys for dialogue rather than simply venting his spleen it might have been more constructive. What he said - or rather the way he said it - belongs on a messageboard like this really.

[47er]

I too say good on him. Fed up of people tip-toing around this issue in the media. In that context its good to see the Walkers copping it at last.

What has been done to our club is unforgiveable and maybe terminal. Embarassing possibly to Venkys, gut-wrenching to those of us who have supported Rovers all our lives, shaming hopefully to Walkers and the so-called Trust.

More please.

[jw_]

I think it's pretty obvious that Venkys don't do dialogue which just adds to everybodys frustrations including no doubt the honourable Mr Farron and I for one relished the comments he made because for once someone publicly spoke the truth. Unfortunately I won't hold my breath waiting for them to respond or change their ways as I don't believe they even care.

[arbitro]

He's the leader of a major political party Tony (notwithstanding their poor results at the last election). I know he was speaking as a Rovers fan but once you get to those sort of positions the rules change unfortunately. Calling the people running a major foreign business silly names like that could come back to bite him and I can guarantee that the Lib Dem PR people would have had a word in his ear afterwards.

Perhaps if he'd used that media access to appeal to Venkys for dialogue rather than simply venting his spleen it might have been more constructive. What he said - or rather the way he said it - belongs on a messageboard like this really.

I can't agree. He was interviewed and gave an honest opinion as a Rovers fan which he is perfectly entitled to do. I read his comments and admire him for them and you can feel the passion behind them. I would feel the same irrespective of who spoke out and which club they support.

There has been too much pussy footing around by the higher profile Rovers fans and ex employees who could have done/said more.

[oldjamfan1]

I can't agree. He was interviewed and gave an honest opinion as a Rovers fan which he is perfectly entitled to do. I read his comments and admire him for them and you can feel the passion behind them. I would feel the same irrespective of who spoke out and which club they support.

There has been too much pussy footing around by the higher profile Rovers fans and ex employees who could have done/said more.

I agree in relation to the ex employees, but that is a whole different scenario, I just think the fella has missed a trick here. He could have been just as critical without resorting to insults and including a couple of constructive suggestions for Venkys going forward rather than simply insulting them might have been more appropriate.

We'll just need to agree to disagree on this one Tony

[roverzee]

I think only time will tell if this was Tim Farron being a standard bearer for Rovers fans, or Tim Farron using football and The Sun for the his own causes. It's very suspicious that (unlike all the other local MPs / known Rovers fans MPs) he has never had a word to say on the subject before. Even this season there would have been more logical moments for it to appear than after the first win of the season. That makes it appear the political impact was more important than the Rovers impact - ie on the first day of the Lib Dem conference at a time when both party and new leader are struggling to get any airtime whatsoever, especially since Corbyn's election.

We'll see if he has anything else to say on the subject or if he actually does anything to back up this Sun article, or if it was just a bit of a publicity stunt.

[Mattyblue]

Fair point zee.

I don't recall him speaking at this in the Commons:

http://www.brfcc.com/mb/index.php/page/classic/articles.html/_/club-news/graham-jones-mp-football-governance-and-venkys-r444

[the original david brent]

I think only time will tell if this was Tim Farron being a standard bearer for Rovers fans, or Tim Farron using football and The Sun for the his own causes. It's very suspicious that (unlike all the other local MPs / known Rovers fans MPs) he has never had a word to say on the subject before. Even this season there would have been more logical moments for it to appear than after the first win of the season. That makes it appear the political impact was more important than the Rovers impact - ie on the first day of the Lib Dem conference at a time when both party and new leader are struggling to get any airtime whatsoever, especially since Corbyn's election.

We'll see if he has anything else to say on the subject or if he actually does anything to back up this Sun article, or if it was just a bit of a publicity stunt.

He has spoken out before. I remember a couple of years ago he got involved with the 3 local mp's (straw, jones and berry)

The bbc northwest tonight twitter link below confirms he has spoken out.

https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcnwt/status/341856701798039552

On an ancillary political note, whilst I have never voted Lib Dems, good luck to Tim Farron. I really think he could pick up a lot of votes from the centre left, and the election of Corbyn as Labour leader is the best thing that could have happened to him.