Letter from owners

[Mattyblue]

On the flip side, if we were on one of TM’s intermittent winning runs, I’d imagine they’d get a fairly rousing reception… 

[tomphil]

33 minutes ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Fans already lapping it up on social. "Thanks for your continued support."

I've said it before and I'll say it again, many of our 'fans' deserve them.

I think i'll go and insert cocktail sticks dipped in vinegar into my eyeballs rather than read the LT comments.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

31 minutes ago, TruRover said:

I’m not going to lie, as disruptive as venkys have been for the club, this message was particularly important and warming to hear. I think throughout the last couple of years venkys have shown tremendous backing towards the club, with big signings and particularly a very competitive budget last season during the pandemic showing their commitment to Rovers. As much as fans won’t want to hear this, we need them,  their support and their willingness to fund the club.  
 

I have been extremely worried recently, with the back room staff exodus, lack of signings and lack of word from Venkys that we may of got to a point where they have given up. And that could of meant real trouble for us. However from this letter it is evident their engagement is still their, along with a surprising desire to attend a game this season. That would be a big step in mending the owner-fan base relationship. 
 

Let me be clear, I’am no fan of venkys. Nor are they free of blame for the state of the club right now (even though I think clesrly Waggot and TM derserve a lot of attention for where we are currently at). But this message, with the current context of the club, is relieving to hear.

When in God's name will people understand They are solely responsible for the perilous position the club finds itself In.

This constant kowtowing to their financial benevolence is just nauseating...they need to be gone asap and the club sold into the hands of responsible owners who really want the best for us.

Edited August 6, 2021 by SIMON GARNERS 194

[alex l]

This just shows how you can't please everyone. 

Some fans weren't happy they don't communicate enough. When they do, they get savaged. 

Some want them to attend games. Others, aggressively, state they're not welcome at Ewood. 

 

[chaddyrovers]

Interesting that the letter is from Balaji himself and not Venkys. Guess he running the club and the main owner now with the other  3 family as owners but In the background. 

Pleased he committed to keeping and maintaining Academy category 1 status 

[JacknOry]

11 minutes ago, alex l said:

This just shows how you can't please everyone. 

Some fans weren't happy they don't communicate enough. When they do, they get savaged. 

Some want them to attend games. Others, aggressively, state they're not welcome at Ewood. 

 

You really think he wrote that?

[Miller11]

13 minutes ago, alex l said:

This just shows how you can't please everyone. 

Some fans weren't happy they don't communicate enough. When they do, they get savaged. 

Some want them to attend games. Others, aggressively, state they're not welcome at Ewood. 

 

It’s not engagement though, it’s more empty words. Engagement would be responding to correspondence put to them.

6 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Interesting that the letter is from Balaji himself and not Venkys. Guess he running the club and the main owner now with the other  3 family as owners but In the background. 

Pleased he committed to keeping and maintaining Academy category 1 status 

I wouldn’t read too much into who it is signed by. It’s clearly written by Waggott and hits all the key points he’s been spouting for the last couple of years.

They committed to respecting the legacy of Jack Walker… look how that turned out.

Edited August 6, 2021 by Miller11

[Lucimo]

36 minutes ago, JHRover said:

I think this is the last desperate attempt by Waggott and Pasha to drum up some interest and entice some fans back before the season starts.

The damage their regime has caused will be coming clear now with awful season ticket sales and the last trick up the sleeve is to try and win people over with something 'direct' from the owners reaffirming their commitment at a time when there are rightly serious questions being asked again about their running of the club.

I very much doubt Balaji has written this. Probably dictated or prepared by Waggott and then emailed over for his staff to transpose onto his letterhead and for his signature. Appears therefore more authentic than merely a typed article on the website as in previous years.

 

I thought exactly the same. He's put his name to somebody else's letter. TBF he may not even be aware of it. I mean has anyone seen Balajis signature. 

[rog of the rovers]

Personal thoughts, maybe I'll put my tin hat on.

I think its a worthy effort at a reconnection.

Some fans will never want to see them walk through the door ever again, whilst some fans will want to see the owners back at matches, showing passion and engaging once more with Blackburn Rovers. 

If a letter like this offends or strikes a level of hatred/vitriol/anger then the club and thus the owners are probably beyond redemption for you, under any circumstances, and that is absolutely fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Personally I think it is another small step in the right direction. The Rao family at Ewood would be another and that at some point between 2011 and now I've made a conscious (or subconscious) decision that they are here to stay, we need their investment on a year by year basis and that maybe, just maybe, there is a happy ending to this story.

Of course I and us will never forget the circus around their early involvement in the club, the nefarious characters that were involved at all levels of the club, from the boardroom to the pitch.

But it is history, we can't change that, they can't change that. We can change what happens today and what happens tomorrow.

What they can do, is commit to the club financially, upkeep the academy and provide the best tools they can (FFP allowing) for the manager of that time to flourish. Which is what they seem to be doing.

Maybe I'm being naive, but I think the club can come back together, a period of healing needs to be done on all sides and bridges rebuilt (or at least attempts to rebuild) from the owners and the fans. I do think that then and only then, can the club look upwards and back towards the Premier League. We need the fans back in numbers, we need the owners engaged, we need that optimism and spirit back in the town, the community, the fanbase.

Its a long road back, but maybe their return could be the first step?

 

 

[RoversClitheroe]

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Pleased he committed to keeping and maintaining Academy category 1 status 

When they're actively trying to sell Brockhall?

[perthblue02]

1 hour ago, JoeH said:

Obviously a practical joke, wonder if they checked the post mark on the envelope 🙂

[alex l]

8 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

You really think he wrote that?

Possibly not but I think he read it and put his name to it, which makes it his. 

[JacknOry]

Just now, alex l said:

Possibly not but I think he read it and put his name to it, which makes it his. 

It really doesn't. 

[Dreyski]

8 minutes ago, alex l said:

Possibly not but I think he read it and put his name to it, which makes it his. 

Wish I’d known that during my university days! 

[Gavrover]

They should do a video message... at least then it would show some form of efforts. 

[Mattyblue]

End of the day, they are keeping the club out of administration, but they are letting it wither on the vine due to chronic mismanagement at a local level.

Basic decision making like hiring a competent Chief Exec, changing managers when things get stale etc is the absolute basics of club ownership, choices that cost relatively little as a proportion of the cash injections, but make all the difference, and will also help reduce the yearly haemorrhaging of cash.

Until they start actually grasping the fundamentals of football club stewardship, stuff that should be learnt in 10 weeks, not 10 years, then it’s all just hollow words and can be filled away until the next ‘Open Letter’ comes along in League 1.

 

Edited August 6, 2021 by Mattyblue

[DE.]

It's amazing to me that after a decade of consistent neglect beyond the basics of keeping the lights on people think Venky's are going to suddenly change their ways. It's not like we haven't had these kind of letters before. They amount to nothing in the long run. I get wanting to hope against all past evidence for the best, but that's all it is.

Most of the fans left who have any ambition for the club whatsoever (and I think this makes up a really small portion of the fanbase these days) want to see ACTION - actual changes to the structure and inner workings of the club that provide short and long-term benefits. All this letter proves is that the owners are seemingly happy bumbling on under a broken structure and a useless manager who is dragging us back into League 1. If that's a cause for happiness then I don't know what to say. 

[roverandout]

Stay clear of the let comments page.  I needed a sick bucket.  Definition of deluded 

[davulsukur]

1 hour ago, Gavlar Somerset Rover! said:

Fans already lapping it up on social. "Thanks for your continued support."

I've said it before and I'll say it again, many of our 'fans' deserve them.

Twitter is full of "we should be welcoming them back with open arms"

"They've learnt from from their mistakes"

"They are funding us, what more do you want?"

I can't believe so many people think they are good owners, or should be welcomed.

 

[perthblue02]

One good thing about the letter its a decent resolution on the Rovers site, I'm sure there will be plenty more letters from "Balaji" during the season

[mustard]

10 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Stay clear of the let comments page.  I needed a sick bucket.  Definition of deluded 

I was daft enough to go on there and it’s wound me right up.  Anyone criticises Mowbray or Venky’s, they get called dingles or anti-Rovers.

Wanting what’s best for the Coventrio rather than BRFC puts you at an elevated fan status nowadays.

Deluded weirdos. 

[unsall]

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

I’m not going to lie, as disruptive as venkys have been for the club, this message was particularly important and warming to hear. I think throughout the last couple of years venkys have shown tremendous backing towards the club, with big signings and particularly a very competitive budget last season during the pandemic showing their commitment to Rovers. As much as fans won’t want to hear this, we need them,  their support and their willingness to fund the club.  
 

I have been extremely worried recently, with the back room staff exodus, lack of signings and lack of word from Venkys that we may of got to a point where they have given up. And that could of meant real trouble for us. However from this letter it is evident their engagement is still their, along with a surprising desire to attend a game this season. That would be a big step in mending the owner-fan base relationship. 
 

Let me be clear, I’am no fan of venkys. Nor are they free of blame for the state of the club right now (even though I think clesrly Waggot and TM derserve a lot of attention for where we are currently at). But this message, with the current context of the club, is relieving to hear.

 

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

I’m not going to lie, as disruptive as venkys have been for the club, this message was particularly important and warming to hear. I think throughout the last couple of years venkys have shown tremendous backing towards the club, with big signings and particularly a very competitive budget last season during the pandemic showing their commitment to Rovers. As much as fans won’t want to hear this, we need them,  their support and their willingness to fund the club.  
 

I have been extremely worried recently, with the back room staff exodus, lack of signings and lack of word from Venkys that we may of got to a point where they have given up. And that could of meant real trouble for us. However from this letter it is evident their engagement is still their, along with a surprising desire to attend a game this season. That would be a big step in mending the owner-fan base relationship. 
 

Let me be clear, I’am no fan of venkys. Nor are they free of blame for the state of the club right now (even though I think clesrly Waggot and TM derserve a lot of attention for where we are currently at). But this message, with the current context of the club, is relieving to hear.

Yep agree there, sensible post, we are where we are, and would be in big trouble without their money. Majority on here obviously won’t agree, but it looks like we are going have to use the academy to bring through players, with Venkys throwing in the odd 5/6 million  twice a year for day to day running costs.

And for those fans saying they would rather go out the league and start again as Blackburn AFC if it meant Venkys going is in my view pathetic.

Lets hope we get 4/5 decent loans/frees and see what happens this season.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

9 minutes ago, mustard said:

I was daft enough to go on there and it’s wound me right up.  Anyone criticises Mowbray or Venky’s, they get called dingles or anti-Rovers.

Wanting what’s best for the Coventrio rather than BRFC puts you at an elevated fan status nowadays.

Deluded weirdos. 

One person has even had a pop at this site....

[JacknOry]

10 minutes ago, unsall said:

 

Yep agree there, sensible post, we are where we are, and would be in big trouble without their money. Majority on here obviously won’t agree, but it looks like we are going have to use the academy to bring through players, with Venkys throwing in the odd 5/6 million  twice a year for day to day running costs.

And for those fans saying they would rather go out the league and start again as Blackburn AFC if it meant Venkys going is in my view pathetic.

Lets hope we get 4/5 decent loans/frees and see what happens this season.

Dear oh dear

 

[CheshireRover]

36 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Stay clear of the let comments page.  I needed a sick bucket.  Definition of deluded 

Same applies to the official club Facebook post. It’s genuinely infuriating.