[Archived] Alan Irvine Departs

[chaddyrovers]

Which group are you Chaddy?

Supporting my club Abbey and attending games.

Like Ste B said yesterday nobody should need to justify themselves having a season ticket

[deryck guyler's spoon]

Do you see those organising the protests or speaking out against the owners getting shouted down by fellow fans?

IMO one of the key reasons for supporter unrest has been driven by those who staunchly defy of any negativity being spoken about the club. The amount of times I heard and experienced fans shouting down people for protesting against Kean, protesting against Venky's, for questioning Bowyer, for criticising the appointment of Coyle, etc etc. Ask anyone involved in the organising of protests how much stick they got from their fellow fan. You might not see it so much on BRFCC but it certainly happens on other social media and down at Ewood.

You conveniently ignored the other side to the coin there dgs.

I was home in in January 2012 (I think) for the last Premier League game I saw Rovers in. We were abysmal against Stoke, hundreds wore yellow and black scarves and the BBE Lower rang out to the chant of 'Kean out' with not a peep of protest in response. I have no problem with those who gave some grief back to those that gave Bowyer such a hard time. How can there have been 'shouting down' of those protesting Coyle's appointment?

We often complain about how we are portrayed by the media and criticised by other fans but when you see the galvanised defiance displayed by supporters of clubs who have had it even worse than us then it begs the question as to whether or not we deserve our negative portrayal.

[mustard]

I was home in in January 2012 (I think) for the last Premier League game I saw Rovers in. We were abysmal against Stoke, hundreds wore yellow and black scarves and the BBE Lower rang out to the chant of 'Kean out' with not a peep of protest in response. I have no problem with those who gave some grief back to those that gave Bowyer such a hard time. How can there have been 'shouting down' of those protesting Coyle's appointment?

We often complain about how we are portrayed by the media and criticised by other fans but when you see the galvanised defiance displayed by supporters of clubs who have had it even worse than us then it begs the question as to whether or not we deserve our negative portrayal.

Read what I wrote. There has been criticism of Coyle's appointment on social media and there have been plenty shouting down those who say anything remotely negative. Go to the LT website or Facebook if you want an idea. I got labelled "not a real fan" for saying how terrible an appointment Coyle was.

In that one game you attended, you may not have seen it. How you could have had eyes and ears on every part of the ground, I do not know but I'm just saying it happened and still happens. If there was a protest outside Ewood on the first day of the season against Venky's, there'd be plenty shouting the protesters down down saying to 'get behind the club/team' or something.

[ABBEY]

Supporting my club Abbey and attending games.

Like Ste B said yesterday nobody should need to justify themselves having a season ticket

So are you saying I aint a fan ?

[arbitro]

Lambert also thought he was a shoe-in for the Celtic job Tony. Don't underestimate how much that was an influence on his decision to leave. He's not above criticism in my eyes as I hear a fair bit about what goes on behind the scenes at Celtic Park (much more so than I do about Ewood).

Would I prefer it if Venky's sold to the Ians (or anybody else for that matter)? Absolutely 100%.

Do I think Blackburn Rovers is still a relatively attractive job for a manager? Yes I do, despite everything else that has happened. I don't think we are quite at Leeds levels reputationally and yet they still managed to recruit a fairly highly regarded young manager didn't they? (Which is why I was so annoyed at Coyle's appointment, prompting the email to Cheston, which he still hasn't replied to)

That is kind of my point Andy. How many of the managers we were rumoured to be talking too weren't damaged goods? These along with the appointment of Coyle and Irvine going are part of the dumbing down of our club. On and off the field we have (with one standout exception) lost good people and they have been replaced by vastly inferior people.

I recall a job advertised several weeks ago but I can't recall the job title. There has been no news about this as our one man band Cheston is almost single handedly running the club. I keep hearing Lamberts accepting mediocrity interview and how right he was.

I didn't get a reply neither so I upped the ante last week in my most recent email.

[chaddyrovers]

So are you saying I aint a fan ?

Not at all Abbey

I fully respect your decision/stance on not renewing your season Ticket.

[Jock]

Who the hell follows their children to University?

I'm not buying that one. Irvine lives in Crosby. He must have been shoved out by the SEM so slimy crew.

[oldjamfan1]

Do you genuinely know what lambert actually thought?

I know he was lobbying Celtic people about their manager's job while he was our manager and before he had ever made any public criticism of our owners Abbey. Celtic still had a manager at that point as well, so in every sense it was poor on his part, but presumably thats how things work in the murky world of football. I don't know whether 'release clauses' are common in manager's contracts (hands up who was surprised to hear about it - I certainly was!) but he had one included in his presumably for a reason.

Celtic officials were gobsmacked and over the moon when Brendan Rodgers accepted their offer (as were all their fans, they thought he would be staying in the English Prem or going to a decent European side) - but I'm fairly sure I know who would have got that job if he'd turned them down.

[tomphil]

Who the hell follows their children to University?

I'm not buying that one. Irvine lives in Crosby. He must have been shoved out by the SEM so slimy crew.

Conspiracy alert - Those offended, fence sitters or head buriers look away

I'm with you on the possibility of something like that, sign with us or on yer bike. Not like it hasn't happened before. Anyway just a thought nothing else.......

[tomphil]

The scary part is even if he can bring in money of that level.. we will still be losing almost double that each season. I can easy see a scenario with him bringing in promising youth players, giving them game time no matter what and increasing their values so their parent clubs/agents reap the rewards.. wonder if there are any backhanders for doing that.

Yep I believe that kind of thing goes on both officially and unofficially and a few clubs in this division will operate like that. Sadly we have to as well because that's what we've been reduced to although certain things point to the big guy and his mates having that as part of the overall plan when they bought the club.

Watford have been held up as an example of this but it's all been part of a clear plan that saw them eventually get back to the Prem. You don't mind it as much if that's the case but people just running players through the books to make their % whilst just using the club as a vehicle for it with no real ambition as has been the case here really sticks in the throat.

Like I said it's a big part of the way we have to operate now but it's not something I'm willing to put my hard earned into in the long term I don't think. Football in general takes the p I s s out of it's loyal customers but our lot have taken it to new levels.

[Stuart]

I know he was lobbying Celtic people about their manager's job while he was our manager and before he had ever made any public criticism of our owners Abbey. Celtic still had a manager at that point as well, so in every sense it was poor on his part, but presumably thats how things work in the murky world of football. I don't know whether 'release clauses' are common in manager's contracts (hands up who was surprised to hear about it - I certainly was!) but he had one included in his presumably for a reason.

Celtic officials were gobsmacked and over the moon when Brendan Rodgers accepted their offer (as were all their fans, they thought he would be staying in the English Prem or going to a decent European side) - but I'm fairly sure I know who would have got that job if he'd turned them down.

Which is it? You know or you think?

Because you have recent form for being very certain about things only to later say it was only a suggestion.

It's obvious to a blind man on a galloping horse that Lambert had been given assurances which then didn't materialise and had the foresight to have a contract clause to protect himself.

Ultimate he left without joining a new club, whatever enquiries he might have made - as though he would be the only person in football to have ever done so - which says plenty about the situation.

[BlueMonday]

Supporting my club Abbey and attending games.

Like Ste B said yesterday nobody should need to justify themselves having a season ticket

And by the same token, anybody making a stand because of the mismanagement of the Club, shouldn't have to justify it, or be accused of being disloyal.

[chaddyrovers]

And by the same token, anybody making a stand because of the mismanagement of the Club, shouldn't have to justify it, or be accused of being disloyal.

which I havent done.

already said I respect their decision

[Mike E]

And by the same token, anybody making a stand because of the mismanagement of the Club, shouldn't have to justify it, or be accused of being disloyal.

Ay-men, brudda!

[oldjamfan1]

Which is it? You know or you think?

Because you have recent form for being very certain about things only to later say it was only a suggestion.

Well Stuart, despite the fact that you've highlighted two separate parts of my post and blended them into one argumentative reply, I'll give you the courtesy of a response. I obviously didn't witness the Lambert conversations with the Celtic people with my own eyes or ears but the source is a pretty reliable - nay impeccable - one connected to Celtic Football Club. Aside from all that, if Lambert was as principled as you make him out to be he would not have opened his resignation statement with "I would like to thank the owners".

I have no idea what you're talking about with the highlighted sentence? The Coyle link to Irvine perhaps? Their families both lived on the same estate as me, Coyle's wife and sister taught both of my kids and Alan Irvine's dad was in the same cardiac rehabilitation ward as me for a fortnight over a decade ago. So I knew they know each other. I couldn't be certain about their football connections. I post snippets of what I hear and it just so happens that there have been a lot of Scotland/Bishopbriggs/Glasgow/Celtic connections to Rovers recently so I have passed on anything I've heard.

Edit. Your post did make me wonder whether I had posted something that could have been misconstrued or whether I had simply posted after too many drinks and exaggerated something. So I checked back on what I posted about Irvine/Coyle, on the assumption that is what your little personal dig refers to, and sure enough it would appear that I simply posted the fact that they came from the same place and knew each other, while speculating that it was possible Irvine recommended Coyle. So no backtracking from me Stuart.

Therefore it seems to me as though you have a problem with my postings, heaven knows why - if that is the case just put me on ignore. I try not to get personal with posters if I can help it so I would respectfully advise you to do the same. There's enough petty bitching and whining on here as it is.

[BlueMonday]

which I havent done.

already said I respect their decision

I was simply making the counter argument.

Somehow somewhere, Rovers supporters have to try and find the middle ground and galvanise against the common enemy.

[oldjamfan1]

Somehow somewhere, Rovers supporters have to try and find the middle ground and galvanise against the common enemy.

I completely agree with your sentiment here BM but would find it more helpful and positive if we galvanised behind the common cause - the team in blue and white halves.

[Mike Graham]

Virtually everything to do with the Club is poison. Owners, management structure and even the fans.....that is why I have given up going to Ewood.....it is such a depressing place.

[BlueMonday]

I completely agree with your sentiment here BM but would find it more helpful and positive if we galvanised behind the common cause - the team in blue and white halves.

ENEMY is over dramatic and probably not helpful, I'll concede that OJF. But the animosity Venkys generate with their deceitful ways and disrespect of supporters makes it feel like they are the enemy.

And what ever else they have done, the wedge they have driven between the fan base is unforgivable.

[oldjamfan1]

ENEMY is over dramatic and probably not helpful, I'll concede that OJF. But the animosity Venkys generate with their deceitful ways and disrespect of supporters makes it feel like they are the enemy.

And what ever else they have done, the wedge they have driven between the fan base is unforgivable.

I know BM, its horrible. But you'll never get everyone that galvanised AGAINST someone because some folk just turn up at 3pm every other Saturday and don't lose much sleep over it otherwise. I wish I was that blissfully content.

Virtually everything to do with the Club is poison. Owners, management structure and even the fans.....that is why I have given up going to Ewood.....it is such a depressing place.

It is PB. Ewood Park is just about the only link to my home town I have left and though I swore that was it for me when Coyle was appointed, as we get closer to August I will probably end up making the pilgrimage!!

[Mike Graham]

I sincerely hope you enjoy it.

I will be either shooting some clays (everyone I hit will be called Venky or K**n) or walking in the Lakes.

Sadly Ewood is a s**thole these days.

[ABBEY]

Sat in pub with some cockney boys .. West Ham

And millwall they say burn the wankas out haha . Take no faking @#/? off em San haha

[oldjamfan1]

Sat in pub with some cockney boys .. West Ham

And millwall they say burn the wankas out haha . Take no faking @#/? off em San haha

West Ham and Millwall in the same pub Abbey??

Its only a matter of time fella, light the blue touch paper and stand well back.

[Leonard Venkhater]

ENEMY is over dramatic and probably not helpful, I'll concede that OJF. But the animosity Venkys generate with their deceitful ways and disrespect of supporters makes it feel like they are the enemy.

And what ever else they have done, the wedge they have driven between the fan base is unforgivable.

Matthew 10.36

A man's enemies shall be of his own household.

I have come to the personal position, where I am refusing to "normalise"/"sanitise" the unacceptable. I think we are being deceived, but the trouble is that a part of me would prefer to buy into the illusion than face the reality that the Raos are playing us all for mugs.

Nothing can be done unless there is supporter consensus. The problem is that things will have to become near terminal for that to happen. Then it may well be too late.

[Stuart]

Well Stuart, despite the fact that you've highlighted two separate parts of my post and blended them into one argumentative reply, I'll give you the courtesy of a response. I obviously didn't witness the Lambert conversations with the Celtic people with my own eyes or ears but the source is a pretty reliable - nay impeccable - one connected to Celtic Football Club. Aside from all that, if Lambert was as principled as you make him out to be he would not have opened his resignation statement with "I would like to thank the owners".

I have no idea what you're talking about with the highlighted sentence? The Coyle link to Irvine perhaps? Their families both lived on the same estate as me, Coyle's wife and sister taught both of my kids and Alan Irvine's dad was in the same cardiac rehabilitation ward as me for a fortnight over a decade ago. So I knew they know each other. I couldn't be certain about their football connections. I post snippets of what I hear and it just so happens that there have been a lot of Scotland/Bishopbriggs/Glasgow/Celtic connections to Rovers recently so I have passed on anything I've heard.

Edit. Your post did make me wonder whether I had posted something that could have been misconstrued or whether I had simply posted after too many drinks and exaggerated something. So I checked back on what I posted about Irvine/Coyle, on the assumption that is what your little personal dig refers to, and sure enough it would appear that I simply posted the fact that they came from the same place and knew each other, while speculating that it was possible Irvine recommended Coyle. So no backtracking from me Stuart.

Therefore it seems to me as though you have a problem with my postings, heaven knows why - if that is the case just put me on ignore. I try not to get personal with posters if I can help it so I would respectfully advise you to do the same. There's enough petty bitching and whining on here as it is.

I've no problem with you or your postings per se but you have been trying to normalise, nay, excuse Coyle's appointment with skewed reasoning whilst looking to besmirch Lambert's character. It would be good to know why that is - aside from Coyle's family living on your estate.

Also, there seems to be a theme developing here amongst a number of posters that if you disagree with somebody's opinion then you are supposed to ignore them completely and leave them to post what they like. (Which given this means that the people I DO have on ignore are free to make personal comments without challenge seems off). This is not what this site has been about at least as long as I've been posting so surely we can have disagreements without ending in insults or requests to be ignored (i.e. unchallenged).