WATR (The Rovers Trust)

[oldjamfan1]

40 minutes ago, OldEwoodBlue said:

What I mean is that the trust board now need to temper their citicism of the club and in particular Waggott. Otherwise, naturally, he will just stop engagement.

If we take the fans takeover as an example. On the face of it, it seems great. But the upshot is this is the trust board doing the clubs job for them... for free. And if the trust want to do more of these, they can't fall out with Waggott. They have to remain amicable business friends. Waggott knows this. It neutralises the trust as a critical voice, much the same as the LT submissively toe the party line so as not to lose access.

I did almost join the trust over Xmas until I thought about this. I like the energy of the new board. But I am firmly Venkys Out which is not the trust's public position. Otherwise they wouldn't be working closely with the club.

Don't take it as criticism. You guys are doing a good job, none more than yourself.

It is just my personal opinion that the MOU is hinderance to getting rid of the owners.

I think you may be underestimating some of the Trust Board members, to be fair. Criticising the club, the owners or any member of staff will be done, as vociferously as necessary, if members give us a mandate to do so. The MoU is a crucial document that actually gives supporters/the Trust more clout than we have had previously.

Watch this space. 

[Mike E]

3 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Care to explain what you mean by this? The MoU is exactly what we will be bashing him around the head with. The club has clearly breached the agreement by not disclosing the financial situation.

Seems there are a handful of posters on here determined to constantly stick the boot in on the Trust for some reason. A couple of points:

1. The Trust is the wrong target and isn’t the enemy here, we all have the best interests of the club at heart.

2. The Trust is manned by volunteers, and certainly in my case I am massively out of pocket in the process.

I’ve always said it is very easy to snipe from the sidelines - anybody who thinks they can do better please put yourself forward and let’s share the burden.

 

Q: Given that the MoU was signed a couple of months after the tax issue, will the club argue they had no obligation to disclose?

[wilsdenrover]

11 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Q: Given that the MoU was signed a couple of months after the tax issue, will the club argue they had no obligation to disclose?

Does it suggest it only covers future events? 

(I’ve never read it)

[oldjamfan1]

56 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Q: Given that the MoU was signed a couple of months after the tax issue, will the club argue they had no obligation to disclose?

They can argue it until they are blue in the face but I will call BS on them if they do.

[We Are The Rovers]

Newsletter: January 2024   Our latest ‘We Are The Rovers’ Supporters Trust Board Meeting took place on the evening of the 23rd January. This newsletter records the key outcomes of the discussions from that meeting.   ‘Fans Takeover’ Games

We had a full discussion on fan takeovers, and it was agreed that the atmosphere at both the Girona pre-season friendly and the Watford league game were the best at Ewood for some time; this was achieved due to the initiative of the Supporters Trust. The Trust welcomed the support and commitment from Club staff for the Watford and Girona games and the excellent support from 4000 Holes, brfcs.com, Rovers Chat, Proud Rovers, Her Game Too, and the South Asian Supporters group.   The Board reiterated its own commitment and resources for future fan takeover events as building new support, retaining existing support and re-engagement of lost support is a key part of our remit as a Trust.   The Board also wanted to see what the Club’s medium to long term plan is for the building support base and improving what we believe to be a very poor match day atmosphere.   Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) The Board reiterated its commitment to the MoU. It is an important agreement, a unique line of engagement with the Club, and is a precursor to a Shadow Board. The next MoU is on 15th February and the Board agreed our representatives for that meeting. Our agenda items to be shared well in advance with the Club presently are: Fans Takeover Club Communications (and the need to share more re finances) Club Finances* Season Ticket Offering for 2024/25 Engagement with the Club Owners Heritage (150th Anniversary Arrangements / Rovers Museum)   * We will express our concerns regarding the ongoing 1/4’ly Delhi High Court applications for essential funding to ensure statutory payments re maintained and staff are paid.  Of particular concern to us is that we believe we are subject to the agreement of a Court many thousands of miles away; Court documents (31/10/2023) state ‘the inquiry which is going against the Petitioner is only at the nascent stage’, thus suggesting to the Trust Board the process of High Court applications could continue for a lengthy period of perhaps some years.   We will also be asking for agreed minutes of the MoU meetings to be published on the Club’s website.   If members have any suggestions as to additional agenda items, or points you wish us to stress then please email us via: [email protected]   Heritage Our Heritage led Steve Williams is making a presentation at Blackburn Library on ‘Rovers Past & Present’ on the evening of the 8th February; this is supported by ‘We Are The Rovers’. We are also looking to repeat the event in the spring at a venue in Chorley as part of our outreach work to supporters outside of BwD.   ‘We Are The Rovers’ AGM The Supporters Trust Annual General Meeting will take place on the evening of 26th June 2024. We are presently sourcing a cost-effective venue. Members will be advised in advance. A signed and framed Rovers 2023/24 shirt has been donated by a Trust Board member as a raffle prize. We will also look at the possibility of live streaming the event.   South Asian Supporters Launch Steve Williams will be making a presentation on Rovers Heritage and History to the SAS launch event at the QPR game on Saturday 3rd February.

 

Edited January 28 by We Are The Rovers

[J*B]

Based on this evenings reports on Duncan McGuire, as a member of We Are The Rovers I would like the senior members of the Trust to put together a vote from the membership to see if there is a mandate to call for the immediate resignation of Steve Waggott and an open letter to both the Owners and Indian Government asking for the club to be sold due to negligence. 

[Mike E]

Get to the QPR game. Tell Venkys how you feel.

[matt83]

I’ve been patiently waiting for the next wave of no doubt futile protests. Hopefully this latest humiliation will be the spark that ignites it. I very much doubt it though apathy rules in the terraces these days. 

[roversfan99]

The problem is, the protests will never be widespread and even if they are, sadly they are too detached to even seemingly notice. So nothing will happen anyway. We are just stuck. Itd quite incredible how anyone defends them, deflects blame from them or thinks that they are good for the club, but even if they didnt im not sure it would make a difference.

[Upside Down]

39 minutes ago, J*B said:

Based on this evenings reports on Duncan McGuire, as a member of We Are The Rovers I would like the senior members of the Trust to put together a vote from the membership to see if there is a mandate to call for the immediate resignation of Steve Waggott and an open letter to both the Owners and Indian Government asking for the club to be sold due to negligence. 

I've been waiting until the meeting with maggot has happened.

But yes I 100% agree. Anything short of a vote of no confidence in the owners and their lackeys will be unacceptable.

There is a line drawn in the sand and you have to pick which side of it you are on.

[DE.]

Budget slashed in the summer, the club decaying at a rapid rate in all areas, best young talent in years sold for £22m with £0 allowed to be spent in replacements anywhere on the pitch as we head into a relegation scrap.

"Imagine if Venkys weren't here"

Gladly. 

[davulsukur]

14 hours ago, J*B said:

Based on this evenings reports on Duncan McGuire, as a member of We Are The Rovers I would like the senior members of the Trust to put together a vote from the membership to see if there is a mandate to call for the immediate resignation of Steve Waggott and an open letter to both the Owners and Indian Government asking for the club to be sold due to negligence. 

As a paying (but silent) member of the trust (we are the Rovers group) I second this.

[RoversClitheroe]

10 hours ago, davulsukur said:

As a paying (but silent) member of the trust (we are the Rovers group) I second this.

Same boat - exact same views.

[Upside Down]

Given that the January transfer window can only be described as a total disaster and a sickening embarrassment to the supporters of this once great club, a statement of no confidence from the trust is the absolute bare minimum.

[miqaayil]

Protest no longer need to be physical ...

 

A protest can be via twitter , tiktok or facebook ...

 

IPL and soccer awareness is growing in INDIA and a time the current government is extremely media conscious a online fans protest would do great. Just an idea 

 

An NFT or Picture repeatedly shared can do wonders  

[Upside Down]

31 minutes ago, miqaayil said:

Protest no longer need to be physical ...

 

A protest can be via twitter , tiktok or facebook ...

 

IPL and soccer awareness is growing in INDIA and a time the current government is extremely media conscious a online fans protest would do great. Just an idea 

 

An NFT or Picture repeatedly shared can do wonders  

That picture showing the club losses before and after venkys is a good one to start with.

[Ben-2000]

@RoversTrust @Mike Graham @Miller11

Will there be any word from the Trust following recent events?

[oldjamfan1]

56 minutes ago, Ben-2000 said:

@RoversTrust @Mike Graham @Miller11

Will there be any word from the Trust following recent events?

The Trust Board met tonight and will be communicating with both the club and trust members tomorrow. 

[rigger]

5 minutes ago, oldjamfan1 said:

The Trust Board met tonight and will be communicating with both the club and trust members tomorrow. 

Would it be possible for a trust member to post the outcome, on this board ?

[oldjamfan1]

Just now, rigger said:

Would it be possible for a trust member to post the outcome, on this board ?

Yes. Tomorrow.

[We Are The Rovers]

 

February 2024 Newsletter     Dear Member,    Your Rovers Trust Board clearly have concerns with the current issues surrounding our football club. As such we held an emergency meeting of the We Are The Rovers (WATR) Board on Sunday evening 4th February.    You will be aware WATR recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the club. This provides us with an excellent opportunity to raise issues and concerns with representatives of the owners. The next MoU meeting is on the 15th February. We have asked if this meeting can be brought forward given our concerns.    The MoU meeting will give your Board the opportunity to raise our serious concerns on the following areas: ownership; finances; club communications; culture; and reputational damage.    We can assure you the above will be robustly and properly raised on behalf of our WATR members and the wider fanbase.    We will keep you updated.

 

Edited February 5 by We Are The Rovers

[RoversClitheroe]

14 hours ago, oldjamfan1 said:

Yes. Tomorrow.

Looking forward to hearing the outcome of yesterday's meeting today

Edited February 5 by RoversClitheroe

[Lesley Norris]

Thankyou to all involved in this. It's reassuring to know that there are people out there willing to put the time in. Much appreciated.

[Ben-2000]

Look forward to hearing the outcome.

Hopefully none of this "we will tell you but it's confidential" stuff. Now is not a time for that.

[bazza]

So who do you discuss our concerns with? To me it's like discussing with the drug barons how to clean up an area and make it drug-free.