WATR (The Rovers Trust)

[oldjamfan1]

I hope people realise why we couldn’t give a ‘running commentary’ of what was going on behind the scenes but the Trust Board has been fighting the fight. 
 

I think our strategy has been correct and I think we are in a strong position to call out the owners now.

I still personally think John Eustace is a snake for what he’s done but that is a personal opinion. 

Edited 21 hours ago by oldjamfan1

[RoversClitheroe]

5 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I hope people realise why we couldn’t give a ‘running commentary’ of what was going on behind the scenes but the Trust Board has been fighting the fight. 
 

I think our strategy has been correct and I think we are in a strong position to call out the owners now.

I still personally think John Eustace is a snake for what he’s done but that is a personal opinion. 

Appreciate the Comms now.

Are you able to elaborate on whether there has been traction at all?

Did they come back to you in the Jan communication you had? 

[Leonard Venkhater]

19 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I hope people realise why we couldn’t give a ‘running commentary’ of what was going on behind the scenes but the Trust Board has been fighting the fight. 
 

I think our strategy has been correct and I think we are in a strong position to call out the owners now.

I still personally think John Eustace is a snake for what he’s done but that is a personal opinion. 

Well, nobody could accuse The Trust of a knee-jerk response after years of wanton destruction, managed decline and..well, er..mendacity!

[andyh]

Great statement. Well done

[oldjamfan1]

4 minutes ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

Well, nobody could accuse The Trust of a knee-jerk response after years of wanton destruction, managed decline and..well, er..mendacity!

We need to get ‘the snowball song’ to number 1 Lenny 😉😂

[Upside Down]

27 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I hope people realise why we couldn’t give a ‘running commentary’ of what was going on behind the scenes but the Trust Board has been fighting the fight. 
 

I think our strategy has been correct and I think we are in a strong position to call out the owners now.

I still personally think John Eustace is a snake for what he’s done but that is a personal opinion. 

I don't agree with your point about Eustace. He's laid his cards out for a while and if the club are just going to lie to him and not deliver on any of their promises then he's just wasting his time.

Fair play to him for telling them to shove the up their arse. He's the second man in the space of a year to do the exact same thing for the exact same reasons.

Fantastic work from the trust. Perfect timing.

[Leonard Venkhater]

8 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

We need to get ‘the snowball song’ to number 1 Lenny 😉😂

As if!

[Bethnal]

40 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I hope people realise why we couldn’t give a ‘running commentary’ of what was going on behind the scenes but the Trust Board has been fighting the fight. 
 

I think our strategy has been correct and I think we are in a strong position to call out the owners now.

I still personally think John Eustace is a snake for what he’s done but that is a personal opinion. 

I think both Eustace and JDT being the snakes in all this is a pretty weak narrative. We’re all entitled to opinions and emotions are running high but the issue is - and always has been - anyone directly associated with the owners, representing their interests and managing the club into decline. Every compliant director, C-Suite exec, advisor, lackey, etc. And Kean. And maybe Bradley Orr. And probably Shane Duffy. But mainly the Venky stooges.

[Mike Graham]

We have had to play the long game and get our timing right in terms of calling out the Venkys and their representative.  It has been a difficult and challenging journey and we recognise why some supporters have been critical of us.

The Venkys continuing to own our Club is now untenable. It is time for Rovers supporters to call the tune and plan for a new and different future for our Club. 

The media campaign has already started.  Other work and planning for the future of OUR Club is underway.

[BankEnd Rover]

1 minute ago, Mike Graham said:

We have had to play the long game and get our timing right in terms of calling out the Venkys and their representative.  It has been a difficult and challenging journey and we recognise why some supporters have been critical of us.

The Venkys continuing to own our Club is now untenable. It is time for Rovers supporters to call the tune and plan for a new and different future for our Club. 

The media campaign has already started.  Other work and planning for the future of OUR Club is underway.

Great to hear, thank you.

[Upside Down]

As frustrating as the process has been, the Trust over many years have tried to work with these people to make the situation at the club better.

The fact that they have now said that the only option is for the owners to sell up and fuck off speaks volumes.

It's not a statement given as a knee jerk reaction or a short fuse, it's after years of trying to work with them and now saying there is no point in trying.

We need to continue with this and use the momentum against venkys and their lap dogs. Hopefully the trust will continue to call them out over every lie, every broken promise, every bit of bullshit they come out with.

We need to control the narrative here. This is our club, it's always been our club and always will be our club. It will never be theirs.

[Bethnal]

16 minutes ago, Mike Graham said:

We have had to play the long game and get our timing right in terms of calling out the Venkys and their representative.  It has been a difficult and challenging journey and we recognise why some supporters have been critical of us.

The Venkys continuing to own our Club is now untenable. It is time for Rovers supporters to call the tune and plan for a new and different future for our Club. 

The media campaign has already started.  Other work and planning for the future of OUR Club is underway.

I’m one of the critical voices, Mike and while I still believe this could have come sooner, that doesn’t diminish how positively I view the stance the Trust is now taking. Many, many fans will support this stance and your future efforts. There are resources in the fanbase for you to lean on and I’ll be encouraging people to join or (in my case) rejoin the Trust in light of this.

”The best time to plant a tree was 15 years ago. The second best time is today.”

[oldjamfan1]

37 minutes ago, Bethnal said:

I think both Eustace and JDT being the snakes in all this is a pretty weak narrative. We’re all entitled to opinions and emotions are running high but the issue is - and always has been - anyone directly associated with the owners, representing their interests and managing the club into decline. Every compliant director, C-Suite exec, advisor, lackey, etc. And Kean. And maybe Bradley Orr. And probably Shane Duffy. But mainly the Venky stooges.

I think we can all agree where the problem lies but Eustace has shat on his team and the supporters. How do you think the info got into the public domain literally hours before an FA Cup tie and 3 days before a ‘6 pointer’?

Venkys are the real problem but let’s not absolve any other self serving fuckers.

[Davenport Nice]

On 07/02/2025 at 15:16, Herbie6590 said:

That’s very kind that you think I could do it, but I genuinely think it’s a thankless task. 

Apologies if I embarrassed you! I just feel like the more people like yourself who articulate the situation calmly in the media, the better. The only way we'll beat these kidnappers is though fan unity, and calm communication is the key.

[Davenport Nice]

On 07/02/2025 at 18:42, Ozz said:

 

Unfortunately humans tend to criticise more than praise. I for one am thankful of anything that you or anyone does......and I'm not just saying that on the back of hearing the Trust's statement tonight.

[Bethnal]

10 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

I think we can all agree where the problem lies but Eustace has shat on his team and the supporters. How do you think the info got into the public domain literally hours before an FA Cup tie and 3 days before a ‘6 pointer’?

Venkys are the real problem but let’s not absolve any other self serving fuckers.

A fair point and the problem with divorces is that they’re often very messy. Of course he’s acted in his own interests, but again, each manager could’ve been kept onside with the investment that they, the players and the fans have rightly expected in the last two seasons.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Rovers supporter, so I hope we give them a proper hiding at Pride Park and that they go down and stay down, because I’m very petty. I just don’t think he comes close to shouldering even 20% of the blame here.

[Leonard Venkhater]

Just now, Bethnal said:

A fair point and the problem with divorces is that they’re often very messy. Of course he’s acted in his own interests, but again, each manager could’ve been kept onside with the investment that they, the players and the fans have rightly expected in the last two seasons.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Rovers supporter, so I hope we give them a proper hiding at Pride Park and that they go down and stay down, because I’m very petty. I just don’t think he comes close to shouldering even 20% of the blame here.

Yeah, I think it is certainly nuanced. 

The fact that Eustace doesn't come out smelling of roses shouldn't be allowed to divert the blame from the real villains. And make no mistake, that is what the villains will attempt to do.

After all, not only is this a repeat of what happened 12 months ago, the trail of destruction has been going on for 14 years before Eustace even turned up here.

Venky's out-loud and proud!

[Upside Down]

This situation could have easily been avoided by the club backing the manager.

They haven't done that despite promising to do so and to make matters worse they are trying to gaslight fans into believing they did back him.

I hold no animosity towards him for going to a club where he isn't just wasting his time being lied to constantly.

[lraC]

2 hours ago, Leonard Venkhater said:

As if!

Don’t forget my royalties for the backing vocals!!!

We want our Rovers back. 

[RevidgeBlue]

Might be stating the obvious but the Trust need to be getting to the bottom of why it's so bad behind the scenes that Eustace was prepared to take the quite unprecedented jump of jumping ship from a Club in 6th to one in 22nd.

Why were the owners not prepared to give Eustace the assurances he sought or even meet him half way?

Why are players contracts not being renewed? What is the thinking there?

Why do the owners seem reluctant to commit to any long term expenditure in general? Is this a prelude to them selling the Club or placing it into administration in a year or two?

Good luck.

[arbitro]

Well done to the authors of that statement. It certainly speaks for me and how I feel.

Has it been sent to any media outlets?

[wilsdenrover]

@Mike Graham @oldjamfan1 Does this mean the MoU is being torn up?

[chaddyrovers]

Very good statement and the tone and effective of the statement is spotted. 

Duncan Miller been on Radio Lancs this morning. 

 

[chaddyrovers]

Duncan Miller's replies to the questions are simple, straight to the point and very clear message. 

[Mike Graham]

1 hour ago, arbitro said:

Well done to the authors of that statement. It certainly speaks for me and how I feel.

Has it been sent to any media outlets?

Yes.  Duncan was also on Radio Lancs this morning (listen from 07:38) and all The national media outlets have it.  Henry Winter is running with it.