[Archived] Transfers Part 2

[jim mk2]

I totally disagree with your point about supporters. There many, many passionate fans who still follow the club home and away, week in and week out. You may have given up on it jim, but many haven't and that includes those who have decided to boycott.

Where have I said I have given up on the club? Everything I've said is to the contrary

The fan base in the main has been embarrassing throughout this entire saga, if the current goings on had been happening down the m65 that place would have been on fire years ago.

Exactly.

My granddad was a regular at Ewood in the 30s and 40s. My dad followed him and was a season ticket holder from the 70s up until 2011 when he stopped going when they came in and sacked Allardyce. Credit to my dad, he called them out as dodgy shysters from the word go and stopped going immediately, whereas I gave them the benefit of the doubt and more time to prove him wrong, but ultimately he's been proven right. He's now out of the routine of going Rovers and I wonder if he'll ever get back into it once they're gone. He was in a group of about 15-20 friends in the Riverside which has been almost entirely wiped out over the last 5 years.

.

This is the saddest part of it. The stay-aways have mostly gone forever and our fans base isn't big enough to replace them. What's happening now is doing lasting damage to the club.

[Kamy100]

So it looks like we have spent around £400,000 over the last 18 months and bought in close to £40 million from sales/sell on clauses from likes of N'Zonzi and Ruben. I am fairly sure that vast majority of the £40 million will be used to reduce the money that Venky's owe to India State Bank (which is secured against their Indian assets).

I am hoping this signals phase 1 of some sort of exit strategy from Venky's. They certainly aren't funding the club anymore. The big question is if this is some sort of Exit Strategy how long will it take to reach the sale stage? My fear is that it could take 18-24 months with the club limping on.

[mustard]

Comments on the Mulgrew/Emnes LT article suggesting we need Venky's, and obviously a good amount of fan-blaming chucked in for good measure. Our entire squad is worth less than Jordan Rhodes's right foot and yet a huge number of our fans are either happy for Venky's to remain or would rather sit back and wait for this to all blow over. It's shameful.

[1arC]

So it looks like we have spent around £400,000 over the last 18 months and bought in close to £40 million from sales/sell on clauses from likes of N'Zonzi and Ruben. I am fairly sure that vast majority of the £40 million will be used to reduce the money that Venky's owe to India State Bank (which is secured against their Indian assets).

I am hoping this signals phase 1 of some sort of exit strategy from Venky's. They certainly aren't funding the club anymore. The big question is if this is some sort of Exit Strategy how long will it take to reach the sale stage? My fear is that it could take 18-24 months with the club limping on.

That's a fair amount of money £40 million on sales and sell on clauses. That should clear the whole amount that they owe BOI so assuming they realise that they have no on else to sell, why not go now, as it can surely only costs them to carry on?

[Gav]

So it looks like we have spent around £400,000 over the last 18 months and bought in close to £40 million from sales/sell on clauses from likes of N'Zonzi and Ruben. I am fairly sure that vast majority of the £40 million will be used to reduce the money that Venky's owe to India State Bank (which is secured against their Indian assets).

I am hoping this signals phase 1 of some sort of exit strategy from Venky's. They certainly aren't funding the club anymore. The big question is if this is some sort of Exit Strategy how long will it take to reach the sale stage? My fear is that it could take 18-24 months with the club limping on.

I'd take that now Kamy, if it means getting rid of them, but of course nothing is certain.

We just need to hope that the ground and training facilities are secured under the sale agreement the Trust made with Venkys.

Player assets have now run out, they'll be looking to flog the trophy cabinet next.

[Dreams of 1995]

That's a fair amount of money £40 million on sales and sell on clauses. That should clear the whole amount that they owe BOI so assuming they realise that they have no on else to sell, why not go now, as it can surely only costs them to carry on?

I'd hazard a guess they've been advised there is still money left. As someone pointed out to me there's still players with value attached to them.

I'd say: Evans 1m, Stokes (if a good season) 2-3m, Graham 1m, Williams 500k-1m, Lowe 750k, Conway 500k, Lenihan 500k.

Almost 8m in value I'd say. Now that's not even taking into consideration value of sale. A different matter entirely to be honest. I believe they'll be showcasing talent and filling holes with loans with the odd freebie/cheap purchase to add further value.

Above players are off the top of my head too. There will be more players with value attached but can't see them being sold (Greer, Mulgrew, Steele, Raya, Akpan etc). More likely wind contracts down and go for free or continue playing as we decline further.

If they can regain any money I'd imagine they will. We need to push em out, not wait for them to exit at their convenience.

[JHRover]

So it looks like we have spent around £400,000 over the last 18 months and bought in close to £40 million from sales/sell on clauses from likes of N'Zonzi and Ruben. I am fairly sure that vast majority of the £40 million will be used to reduce the money that Venky's owe to India State Bank (which is secured against their Indian assets).

I am hoping this signals phase 1 of some sort of exit strategy from Venky's. They certainly aren't funding the club anymore. The big question is if this is some sort of Exit Strategy how long will it take to reach the sale stage? My fear is that it could take 18-24 months with the club limping on.

The other concern is the sort of buyers we could attract as a League One club. Of course the most important thing is the financial state Venkys leave it in. If the wage bill and running costs are controllable and the external debt is cleared then there would undoubtedly be some interest in resurrecting this club, but not the level of what we could attract as a Championship club one step from the Premier League riches.

If the money is being used to pay off the Bank of India debt then it should be gone by now. The total amount owed to the BOI in the last accounts was around the £17-20 million mark, so the whole amount should be more than double covered by the amount raked in through sales. I guess we'll only know for sure when the next set of accounts emerge, but if the BOI debt is still there then its time to question where the money has been going.

[OJRovers]

Genuine question: have Venkys put a penny of their own money in?

They've borrowed against their land but it is not obvious that they have actually put any cash in themselves.

[Proudtobeblue&white]

I'd take that now Kamy, if it means getting rid of them, but of course nothing is certain.

We just need to hope that the ground and training facilities are secured under the sale agreement the Trust made with Venkys.

Player assets have now run out, they'll be looking to flog the trophy cabinet next.

When I went on a footy tour some while back of Ewood, I'm sure the guide said the replica PL trophy was worth £80k - be very careful what you say!

[bigbrandjohn]

Bringing a dose of levity to the transfer thread. A unique perspective on Charlie Mulgrew.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pnjtVDJps-w

[Athlete]

Genuine question: have Venkys put a penny of their own money in?

They've borrowed against their land but it is not obvious that they have actually put any cash in themselves.

Not one penny

[ABBEY]

Where have I said I have given up on the club? Everything I've said is to the contrary

Exactly.

This is the saddest part of it. The stay-aways have mostly gone forever and our fans base isn't big enough to replace them. What's happening now is doing lasting damage to the club.

my question to hard Jim?

So boycotting is easy and I'm not a passionate fan anymore ? You are talking crap

[Stuart]

At some point, when it suits them, they will leave and the club will continue, albeit a mere shadow of the club that they bought.

It's an interesting notion that all we can do is just sit back and let them ruin the club, and take it as low down the leagues as they like before they quietly shuffle off well out of the limelight, with Rovers potentially less than a shadow by then.

At what point should the fans - who care about the club the most - decide to put up a fight and try to stop the rot? (Strategy to be decided)

Premier League - nope that wasn't worth fighting for

Championship - doesn't seem that is considered as important as playing in blue and white

League One - 'we've been there before, prepared to do it again'

League Two - 'well at least there will be some new grounds and some derby games'

Conference - 'are we still playing in blue and white'

Obviously I'm embellishing for effect but when will those who share your outlook decide: 'enough is enough'? Not saying walk away but at least stand up for something you believe in.

Before it's too late?

[alcd]

That's a fair amount of money £40 million on sales and sell on clauses. That should clear the whole amount that they owe BOI so assuming they realise that they have no on else to sell, why not go now, as it can surely only costs them to carry on?

It's not just the bank loan to the club but also the other bank borrowings to fund the £88m (as at 30/6/15) that Venkys have loaned to the club. It is quite possible that upwards of £120m has been borrowed from the bank (and secured on Venkys assets) so £40m is only a dent in this debt.

[Husky]

When I went on a footy tour some while back of Ewood, I'm sure the guide said the replica PL trophy was worth £80k - be very careful what you say!

I'm sure we could sell it to Liverpool for £100k

[Parsonblue]

Well, that "moment" has lasted 6 years so far.

11 men running around Ewood in blue and while halved shirts seems enough for you regardless of what is happening to the club in the other 99% of the week. It's not enough for thousands of others.

I admire your loyalty but the longer you keep doing it, the longer it will take before everyone can "pick up the pieces".

That's it, pure and simple for me.

Again, totally disagree with the point. The bottom line is that there will always be a hardcore of supporters who will never stop going and that's the choice that individuals make. At the end of the day the boycott debate will never bring people together because although we all agree on the need for change on here - and I'm not convinced that it is universal amongst the wider fanbase - we disagree agree on the merits of the boycott. That, I suspect, will never change and so we need to look beyond that issue.

[Al]

Your definition of a "passionate fan" is based on how many games they attend, how many miles they travel,how much they spend and how loudly they shout at the game.

That was valid once but in the curent situation, the most passionate fan is one who loves the club AND (not BUT!)won't go.

In your opinion. We all have our own ways of supporting and it's wrong to say your way is the only right way.

[mark1875]

In 15 months we have sold approx £35 million worth of talent, and only have one playing asset worth selling now, in Ben Marshall - and as his contract is due to expire in the summer - he'll be free to talk to clubs about moving for free in January.

Combined in this transfer window, the total spent by Championship Clubs is £215 Million. On Average that is almost £9 million per team. Blackburn Rovers spent £250,000.

Selling High and buying Low is all fine, and it is a good way to run a club that has income streams as low as our club does, we have done this for 20 years - big players leaving for big fees, spending a small part of that money on the next asset and banking the majority.

Bowyer spent low on Cairney, Gestede, Duffy, Marshall.....all to see them succeed and be worth more in the future. When you sell one, you reinvest a small part of it in the next one and bank the majority to safeguard the club.

In this window, we have loaned 6, who will ultimately leave us, and we have signed 6, but is there any re-sale value in those players? who is the next big sale to keep the club going - where do we generate £10m next summer? it's simple - we don't.

So for me, the transfer policy is all wrong - and the window has been poor, the team itself is weaker than ever before and the saleable assets are now non-existent....Well Done Venkys

[Parsonblue]

I've not put a wedge there, I'm simply responding to the concept that the most passionate fans are those who attend.

If you read what I wrote earlier in answer to jim you will see that I said there were passionate fans who go to every game and passionate fans who haven't given up who are boycotting.

It's an interesting notion that all we can do is just sit back and let them ruin the club, and take it as low down the leagues as they like before they quietly shuffle off well out of the limelight, with Rovers potentially less than a shadow by then.

At what point should the fans - who care about the club the most - decide to put up a fight and try to stop the rot? (Strategy to be decided)

Premier League - nope that wasn't worth fighting for

Championship - doesn't seem that is considered as important as playing in blue and white

League One - 'we've been there before, prepared to do it again'

League Two - 'well at least there will be some new grounds and some derby games'

Conference - 'are we still playing in blue and white'

Obviously I'm embellishing for effect but when will those who share your outlook decide: 'enough is enough'? Not saying walk away but at least stand up for something you believe in.

Before it's too late?

So what are you doing Stuart? I'm happy with my position so I assume you are happy with the plan of action you are taking, which I would assume is boycotting at the very least.

[oldjamfan1]

In 15 months we have sold approx £35 million worth of talent, and only have one playing asset worth selling now, in Ben Marshall - and as his contract is due to expire in the summer - he'll be free to talk to clubs about moving for free in January.

Combined in this transfer window, the total spent by Championship Clubs is £215 Million. On Average that is almost £9 million per team. Blackburn Rovers spent £250,000.

Selling High and buying Low is all fine, and it is a good way to run a club that has income streams as low as our club does, we have done this for 20 years - big players leaving for big fees, spending a small part of that money on the next asset and banking the majority.

Bowyer spent low on Cairney, Gestede, Duffy, Marshall.....all to see them succeed and be worth more in the future. When you sell one, you reinvest a small part of it in the next one and bank the majority to safeguard the club.

In this window, we have loaned 6, who will ultimately leave us, and we have signed 6, but is there any re-sale value in those players? who is the next big sale to keep the club going - where do we generate £10m next summer? it's simple - we don't.

So for me, the transfer policy is all wrong - and the window has been poor, the team itself is weaker than ever before and the saleable assets are now non-existent....Well Done Venkys

Excellent post - your analysis is spot on, so when people talk about a 'vision for the club' you do have to ask exactly what that vision is!!

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

GK

Steele - £100k

Raya - Academy

DEF

Henley - Academy

Greer - Free

Hoban - Loan

Williams - £250k

Lowe - Academy

Ward - Free

Hendrie - Loan

Nyambe - Academy

Wharton - Academy

Mulgrew - Free

MID

Feeney - Free

Byrne - Loan

Marshall - £1m

Samuelsen - Loan

O'Sullivan - Academy

Akpan - Free

Guthrie - Free

Lenihan - Academy

Tomlinson - Academy

Mahoney - £50k

Evans - £600k

Bennett - £50k

Conway - £100k

FOR

Stokes - Free

Graham - Free

Gallagher - Loan

Emnes - Loan

By my calculations, our current squad cost (without Bonuses, Academy fees etc....)

£2,150,000

Staggering and frightening in equal amounts...we are going to hell on a handcart.

Burnley have just spent 10 Million on one player.

[1arC]

Not one penny

Is that a fact or have you posted that out of frustration and anger?

[Gav]

Is that a fact or have you posted that out of frustration and anger?

It would seem on the face of things that its all borrowed money 1arC.

They got fired off by Barclays, they got slagged off by KPMG, they got hauled before the High Court in London and now they're having land issues in India.

Not very good with money it would seem, well you wouldn't be with 1 brain cell between 3 would you.

[Al]

I'm looking forward to seeing Samuelsen in a Rovers shirt. He looks like my sort of player. An entertainer and hopefully a winner.

[1arC]

It would seem on the face of things that its all borrowed money 1arC.

They got fired off by Barclays, they got slagged off by KPMG, they got hauled before the High Court in London and now they're having land issues in India.

Not very good with money it would seem, well you wouldn't be with 1 brain cell between 3 would you.

Cheers for the response Gav. By the way, what are the land issues in India?