That *was* the January Window

[Lancaster Rover]

It's the fact we went to the effort of announcing it all and do media that confuses me

[yankfan]

16 minutes ago, eire3382 said:

I would really prefer that the owners and Waggott were honest. At the start of a transfer window just state the club can’t buy regardless of sales instead of this pretence. This was deliberate no question. Sell a major asset and pretend to spend some of the generated cash. Can’t they all just f€@k off. Let someone with an interest buy and run the club. Then at least we can give the football side of the club a chance. Gutted this is happening to our club and that there is nothing to stop them. 
Just sell you assholes!

I’m sure the recruitment department, coach and players feel the same way. 

[wilsdenrover]

10 minutes ago, tomphil said:

Like last time it's gross incompetence or deliberate there is absolutely no other explanations now.

Deal off/on etc can't be the reason because they went and did the media to announce it so some imbecile needs the door opening and their arse going through it on a one way trip.

Why open a door when you can open a window.

[Old Codger]

57 minutes ago, yellowsubmarine said:

How can a professional football club function like this? We are a disgrace.

No no no no no no no!!! THEY are a disgrace.

VENKYRAOs OUT!

FATWAGGOT OUT!

Edited February 6 by Old Codger
WIR, Wild Irish Rover, Shirley Crabtree Wrestler.. Now just an Old Codger

[Old Codger]

18 minutes ago, Rover80 said:

I have been testing the waters on social media today and spamming their social media, with anti venky and waggot posts. 

I also created a Facebook page, needs a little work, but it can be used to advertise protest times and dates. 

Feel free to join and post, its: 

Venkys Out 1875

 

 

It isn't showing up when I search for it on FaceBook

 

[RoverCanada]

1 hour ago, yankfan said:

Story in the Atlantic really highlights what shambles were in. Owners who communicate one thing then pull the rug and staff unfit to run a lemonade stand. 

https://theathletic.com/5252239/2024/02/06/blackburn-rovers-duncan-mcguire-transfer/

Yes, was about to post. Seems their sources are more on the Orlando side, but gives some new tidbits on the back-and-forth leading up to the 'admin error' (but no additional info on whatever the hell happened there). Summarising below due to paywall:

- Just for context on the scale of salary involved, McGuire made $77,360+ last year (~£1,200/week) and produced goals at a rate equivalent or better to strikers making $2m+ (£30k/week). Orlando was nowhere close in salary negotiations, hence McGuire was pushing for a move and Orlando was accommodating.

- We tried two loan offers in early January, but we didn't have the upfront money for a transfer/loan fee to entice Orlando, who needed money for a replacement. Sheff Wed also had a few offers declined. McGuire started pushing for a move.

- We returned with a permanent offer after the Wharton deal (allegedly) gave us some cash to use. Agreed on an initial fee of ~£3m, with add-ons potentially taking that to ~£5m. Orlando would retain a sell-on clause, apparently a crucial negotiating point.

- We booked and paid for McGuire's flight. McGuire takes off... Venky's call Waggott, GB, and JDT to inform them there was no money to make the deal.

- GB called Orlando's director and McGuire's agent to apologise. Orlando tried calling McGuire to tell him he's welcome back, but unclear if they couldn't reach him as he made his connecting flight or he got onboard still hoping to make a deal with any English club.

- Sheff Wed reopened talks with Orlando. Plymouth and Ipswich also expressed interest. Agent had McGuire stay in Sheffield, assuming Sheff Wed was the best bet.

- Rovers apparently trying to make a deal for Brekalo around this time, an Orlando target, wouldn't have helped our negotiations with Orlando. We signed Koumetio instead.

- Interestingly, apparently it was McGuire's agent that approached GB after the Wharton deal was 100% confirmed - the first contact since the original deal fell through - asking if we were interested again. GB said we could now only do a loan, Orlando said they'd only sanction a sizeable loan fee and higher purchase option. Agreed on a £550k loan fee and £5.5m purchase option, with add-ons potentially bringing it to £7.5m (the figure being this high is disputed) and Orlando still retaining a sell-on. Orlando were happy the hassle had at least netted them a few million.

- Sheff Wed remained in the picture. Both clubs sent cars ready to pick up McGuire at the hotel. GB apparently made the final sell, convincing McGuire to choose us over Sheff Wed. Final agreements hammered out while McGuire was en route. He arrived 5 hours before the window closed for medical, etc. and the deal was done with 100min to spare.

- We reimbursed McGuire's agent for the cab 🙂

Edited February 6 by RoverCanada

[Polky]

It’s nice to see a journalist like Oliver Kay cover the story. 
 

A journalist with a large following who can make people aware that our club is a shit show!

[Rover80]

8 minutes ago, Old Codger said:

It isn't showing up when I search for it on FaceBook

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/824582382808365/

 

Try that link, see if that works. 

[Old Codger]

 

How Blackburn Rovers’ Duncan McGuire deal fell apart twice

By Tom Bogert and Oliver Kay

3h ago

---

Duncan McGuire rushed through JFK airport to make his connecting flight, even as the reason he was taking it seemed to be falling apart.

The Orlando City striker, a recent USMNT debutant, had been the subject of transfer interest all winter long from the EFL Championship – England’s second tier, just below the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday were among the interested clubs, but Blackburn had finally come to terms with Orlando around 48 hours before the Feb. 1 transfer deadline. The deal was advanced enough that McGuire was permitted to say his goodbyes to his teammates and depart Orlando’s preseason training camp in Mexico, heading to Manchester with a stop in New York City.

But as McGuire sat on that first flight, Blackburn Rovers’ management team was told by the club’s owners in India that they would have to pull out of the deal. The finances, they said, simply weren’t there.

It would be the first of two times McGuire’s attempted winter move to Blackburn would be called off. The second came on Tuesday, when the club announced that the striker’s move had been rejected by the English Football League (EFL) due to late transmission of transfer documents.

Tuesday’s announcement extends one of the most bizarre sagas of the transfer window, and one that could have a direct impact on the USMNT’s chances at the 2024 Olympics.

“All of the necessary paperwork had been completed prior to 10 p.m. on Thursday February 1st,” Blackburn said in a statement,  “however due to an administrative error, the the forms were not processed in the prescribed times.”

The club added that it is appealing the decision, with the EFL board set to consider the case and bring it to a conclusion on Thursday, Feb. 8. If that appeal fails, Blackburn said McGuire will stay in the UK until the process concludes, and would be allowed to return to Orlando City for the start of the MLS season if the appeal is denied. The club says if that happens, it will extend a pre-contract agreement to McGuire to join the club in the summer.

“Detailed discussions with legal representatives and the relevant football authorities have taken place over the last few days to try and reach an urgent resolution on the matter,” the Blackburn statement reads.

In fact, discussions among relevant football figures have been ongoing for many days before today’s announcement – a drawn-out deadline-day tale with a young player’s career hanging in the balance.

Days before the deadline, with the player yet to land at JFK and Blackburn in the middle of this deal’s first collapse, McGuire was up in the air in more ways than one as Blackburn executives apologized to Orlando City sporting director Luiz Muzzi, technical director Ricardo Moreira and McGuire’s agent Chris Megaloudis.

As that unfolded, Megaloudis had a little time and a little hunger to kill before his own connecting flight on his way to meet McGuire in England. He stopped in to P.F. Chang’s, a popular Asian cuisine chain, which accompanies its meals with the traditional fortune cookie.

Hoping for some bit of good news from somewhere, Megaloudis opened it. It didn’t say “Duncan McGuire Will Move To Blackburn” as he hoped, but it did say “a small act will bring happiness to the family”.

There was happiness, but not for long.

This account of the saga is according to multiple sources on both sides of the Atlantic who were either briefed on or directly involved with negotiations. The sources were granted anonymity to protect their relationships within the game.

McGuire experienced quite the whirlwind 72 hours before the Feb. 1 transfer deadline – especially considering the player’s whirlwind rise, from collegiate soccer for Creighton University in Nebraska to the U.S. national team in the space of a year. A first-round draft pick by Orlando City, McGuire came in with modest expectations but greatly exceeded them, beating out Austrian international Ercan Kara to be his team’s starting striker and scoring 15 goals in all competitions in his first professional season. He made his USMNT debut in a January friendly against Slovenia, and should be in contention to play with the U.S. at the Olympics this summer.

Orlando City did not want to lose McGuire this winter. After all, he was on perhaps the most team-friendly contract in MLS: A paltry $77,360 guaranteed, according to the most recent figures released by the MLS Players’ Association. To put that salary in context: McGuire scored 13 league goals in 2023. The next six players behind him on the league scoring charts each make at least $2 million in guaranteed compensation, according to those same MLSPA figures.

Naturally, McGuire’s representation wanted a new contract, but McGuire and Orlando were not especially close to a deal as the club opened negotiations.

Blackburn had tracked McGuire during his breakout season in MLS, and saw him as a long-term target rather than a panic buy. Early in the January window, Blackburn made its first forays for McGuire – two loan offers that Orlando rejected. The English side didn’t have the money upfront for a loan or permanent transfer (first payment of a transfer fee or loan fee), which was integral for Orlando so they could have increased freedom to bring in a replacement for McGuire.

Sheffield Wednesday had a few offers declined, too, as they looked at McGuire to save their season from relegation. Upon learning of these rejected offers, McGuire visited Muzzi, telling the Orlando sporting director he wanted to go, and he wanted to go now. There was no guarantee another offer would arrive in the summer. He wanted to bet on himself.

For Blackburn, circumstances were changing. The club had initially offered a loan deal due to a lack of cash, but Crystal Palace’s interest in Blackburn midfielder Adam Wharton grew serious and a deal was getting closer. Blackburn wanted to use that money to get McGuire. In the days before the close of the transfer window, Wharton’s deal to Crystal Palace for £22 million ($27.8 million) was nearly done. Blackburn returned to Orlando with an offer for a permanent transfer.

Negotiations between Blackburn and Orlando intensified to the point where a deal had finally been verbally agreed late Tuesday night U.S. time (early Wednesday U.K. time), with just enough hours left before the deadline for McGuire to travel to England. The sides agreed on an initial fee of just under $4 million (around £3 million) plus add-ons that could see the deal rise north of $6 million (around £5 million). Orlando would retain a sell-on clause, another crucial negotiating point.

Wednesday morning, Orlando authorized McGuire to depart the team’s preseason camp in Cancun. He did. Blackburn had booked and paid for his flight. McGuire stepped on board, took off, and things changed yet again: Venky’s, the Indian firm that owns Blackburn, called chief executive Steve Waggott, director of football Gregg Broughton and coach John Dahl Tomasson, telling the group that there was no money to do the deal.

Disappointed and apologetic, Broughton called Muzzi and Megaloudis just as McGuire was nearing New York City. The deal, McGuire’s future, Blackburn’s relegation fight and Orlando’s offseason plans all laid in the balance. There were 30 hours until the transfer window closed.

As McGuire rushed to catch his flight to Manchester, Muzzi told Megaloudis that the club would welcome the forward back. Orlando tried to contact McGuire directly to tell him to come back as well, but he proved to be unreachable. If McGuire returned to preseason camp, there was no way he could travel to England in time to complete any move. If he didn’t get on that flight to Manchester, it was over.

McGuire landed in England on Wednesday evening, with about 24 hours until the window closing. By that point, Sheffield Wednesday had re-opened talks with Orlando. Several other Championship clubs, including Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town, also expressed interest in making a deal happen, sources say. Ultimately, though, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn were the only serious bidders.

Megaloudis assumed that Sheffield Wednesday was the most likely destination, so he eventually settled with McGuire at the Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall & Spa hotel in Sheffield on Wednesday evening. McGuire was spotted by a reporter in the lobby on Thursday morning, a mere 13 hours before the window closed. A deal still had not been finalized. He sat in a chair in the lobby – a purple one, like the primary color of Orlando City. At this sleek, relaxing hotel and spa, it was difficult to take even momentary breaks from reality.

In addition to being a trying time for McGuire, the episode has intensified the focus on Blackburn’s ownership: Venky’s, an Indian poultry and pharmaceutical conglomerate, which had assets seized as part of an Indian government clampdown on investment overseas.

Since the turbulence that followed Venky’s’ acquisition of the club in 2010, when they were in the Premier League, Blackburn had found a measure of stability, with investment having helped the club through the difficult years since their relegation from the top flight.

However, there are now serious doubts about whether Venky’s, under growing pressure from the Indian government over the past 12 months, can keep funding Blackburn.

Last week Blackburn issued a statement insisting that legal proceedings in India “will not impact the day-to-day funding of the club in any way”, adding, “The owners have given assurance to the board and executive of BRFC that they will continue to fully support the club, as they have done since they acquired the club in 2010.”

This year, though, Blackburn was struggling to complete deals, even as the sporting staff scrambled to continue pursuing McGuire and other deadline-day targets. One of them, Slovenian international center back David Brekalo, just so happened to be on the verge of a move to Orlando when Blackburn swooped in, creating another messy situation between the two clubs. Orlando City, for its part, certainly wasn’t thrilled to learn Blackburn was trying to hijack the deal, which would have worked in Wednesday’s favor. The Athletic reported on Thursday that Orlando was finalizing a deal to sign Brekalo. Blackburn ultimately signed center back Billy Koumetio on loan from Liverpool on deadline day.

Thankfully for Blackburn, funds were coming in – Palace’s deal to sign Wharton was about to get done. Once again, the club’s circumstances had changed.

Meanwhile, that picture of McGuire at the hotel in Sheffield made rounds on X, previously known as Twitter. Wednesday fans recognized McGuire, showed up and started asking for autographs. McGuire signed a few, though his future was far from decided.

With time ticking and nothing quite set with Wednesday, Megaloudis called Broughton, and asked if Blackburn could come back to the table now that the deal for Wharton was done. It was the first communication between all parties since the previous deal was scrapped.

Broughton said they were still interested in a loan. It was a question of whether they could make an offer that would tempt Orlando back to the table.

Orlando remained open-minded, if surprised. Blackburn said it could only do a loan, and Orlando said it would only sanction the deal if it included a sizable loan fee and a purchase option higher than the previously agreed deal.

After a bit of haggling, Blackburn agreed to pay a $700,000 loan fee (£550,000) with a purchase option near $7 million (around £5.5 million). The purchase option included another $2.5 million add-ons (£2 million), and Orlando would still retain a sell-on percentage. The on-again/off-again hassle had, in effect, netted Orlando a few million more in transfer and loan fees.

Yet still, the deal wasn’t done, and Wednesday remained in the picture. Eventually, both Blackburn and Wednesday sent cars to McGuire and Megaloudis’ hotel, hoping theirs would be the one to take the forward to his medical. A decision would come soon and time running out, plans needed to be set.

Broughton sent data points to Megaloudis about why Blackburn was a better home for McGuire than Wednesday. They showed that the club created more scoring chances than Wednesday, more clear shots per 90, and far more open play expected goals. And most important of all: Blackburn was eight points clear of relegation, with Wednesday five points below the relegation line.

Muzzi ultimately accepted Blackburn’s offer. They called a taxi, spurning both club-sent cars, and began the two-hour drive to Ewood Park. As they traveled across the Peak District, the final agreements were hammered out and contracts drawn up. They arrived around five hours before the window closed for the medical and final steps.

Blackburn reimbursed Megaloudis for the cab, offered the contract, and with 100 minutes to go before the deadline, all parties had signed. McGuire was Blackburn’s newest player. The clubs announced at 11 p.m. UK / 6 p.m. ET – The exact time the transfer window shut (or so they thought).

The next morning, one Premier League owner told Megaloudis the fact that McGuire got on the plane changed his life.

So, too,  could Thursday’s EFL board meeting.

 

Edited February 6 by Old Codger

[SuperBrfc]

38 minutes ago, TheRevAshton said:

Has anyone else picked up on how responsive Nixon is being on Twitter to those who are suggesting that the cock-ups were intentional?

Seems unlike him to repeat himself so much, I also don't recall a time where he's defended the Club this much...

Something's telling me that he's been slipped a few quid to dismiss the theories and try to keep the peace a little.

Yep, I see he tweeted something like "all the best trying to find an owner willing to invest £15m a year. I'm sure there'll be a queue of them waiting".

When a Rovers fan challenged him on this lazy argument and pointed out other Championship clubs lose similar, he got angry and told the fan that Rovers are "living wildly beyond their means".

No different to the spin that we are seeing on FB. It's the people orchestrating the spin that need rooting out.

[NeilInBristol]

1 hour ago, alex l said:

No defence to the original error with Brierley, but the second part is slightly different to my understanding. I think we left the same offer in place and pulled it when it became clear that Brentford were offering more. 

Let's not forget Brierley

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/ethan-brierley-brentford-blackburn-transfer-27041568.amp

 

This is the 3rd time this has happened to us during transfer windows 

This is unacceptable. 

 

Is there a way the club can be held accountable? It's not a coincidence. They are using beaurcarcy as an excuse and we don't but it 

[briansol]

2 hours ago, smiller14 said:

All those staying it has been twice in 2 January windows are also forgetting we did the same to Brierley. Even more pathetically, it meant he couldn't play for his club - relegation stricken Rochdale. We then, despite promises of a pre-contract, pulled out of that deal too. Bad faith. No chance we sign McGuire if this paltry 'appeal' doesn't succeed. 

He did play for Rochdale afterwards. O'Briens problem was that he was not part of Forest squad registration for the latter part of the season. Brierly was not affected of that, might be because U21 aged players doesn't need to be registered.

(Too much Football Manager for me,)

[J*B]

2 hours ago, TommyRovers said:

It's the responsibility of Ian Sylvester. No questions there.

Whether he will be head to roll or whether the blame will be forced onto Broughton is the question.

It’s not him that’s gone for it. Two gone today I’m told…

[wilsdenrover]

9 minutes ago, SuperBrfc said:

Yep, I see he tweeted something like "all the best trying to find an owner willing to invest £15m a year. I'm sure there'll be a queue of them waiting".

When a Rovers fan challenged him on this lazy argument and pointed out other Championship clubs lose similar, he got angry and told the fan that Rovers are "living wildly beyond their means".

No different to the spin that we are seeing on FB. It's the people orchestrating the spin that need rooting out.

Incompetence is very expensive.

[wilsdenrover]

1 minute ago, J*B said:

It’s not him that’s gone for it. Two gone today I’m told…

High up or low down?

[Old Codger]

10 minutes ago, SuperBrfc said:

Yep, I see he tweeted something like "all the best trying to find an owner willing to invest £15m a year. I'm sure there'll be a queue of them waiting".

When a Rovers fan challenged him on this lazy argument and pointed out other Championship clubs lose similar, he got angry and told the fan that Rovers are "living wildly beyond their means".

No different to the spin that we are seeing on FB. It's the people orchestrating the spin that need rooting out.

Someone should post a picture of the champagne corks littering Nuttall street.

[Waggy76]

1 minute ago, J*B said:

It’s not him that’s gone for it. Two gone today I’m told…

There was someone on Sunday , who was supposed to have left ..

VenkyRao world !!!

Todays news tomorrows fish wrappers !

[wilsdenrover]

1 minute ago, Waggy76 said:

There was someone on Sunday , who was supposed to have left ..

VenkyRao world !!!

Todays news tomorrows fish wrappers !

Delay with the paperwork maybe?

[CambridgeRover]

7 minutes ago, J*B said:

It’s not him that’s gone for it. Two gone today I’m told…

Do you have the names?

[AllRoverAsia]

The instructions to scuttle can only have originated in Pune.

No one including Suhail would do this on their own decision.

The Rovers propaganda unit now claiming that an admin error occured is an insult to our intelligence yet, to my complete amazement, it's being believed even on here.

We are owned by vermin, expect them to behave as such.

[windymiller7]

8 minutes ago, wilsdenrover said:

Delay with the paperwork maybe?

👏 That proper made me laugh!

[garnersfags]

It's truly ironic that the accepted narrative appears to be that the latest cock-up was in some way an intentional act by the 'club', and that the view of a number of us that it is GB's sheer sleepwalking incompetence, is now the conspiracy theory. 

You couldn't make it up, although many if us are proving that you can make it up, and then believe it as probable, or even fact. 

It is the fault of whoever was directly responsible for player transfer administration. 

This is the considered opinion of a number of us, all whom sit firmly in the Venky's and Waggot out camp. 

This compounded fiasco will reduce the club's value, to a level beyond what it will save in avoided transfer fees, and that's one of the reasons I don't believe the error was in any way directly intentional. 

[OJRovers]

Am I the only one concerned that the fee could have been up to £8million (with sell on clauses) for a 20 year old completely unproven at this level?

[Ricky]

Just now, OJRovers said:

Am I the only one concerned that the fee could have been up to £8million (with sell on clauses) for a 20 year old completely unproven at this level?

Absolutely. When we’d agreed a fee for about half this previously. 

[AllRoverAsia]

Nice try. Do better.