It's not even a question of getting promoted on the cheap. At 17 to 20 million guaranteed overspend each year its hardly cheap maintaining our position and hoping for promotion. The problem being that 10 of the last 15 promoted teams had parachute and / or solidarity payments. Often even those missing out like Leeds last year come very close in either year one (play off final) or year two (top of the league) following relegation. Last year Burnley spent 100 million, Sheff United 50 million and Luton 20 million on their PL squads. Upon relegation these squads are thrust back into the Championship and the rest of us have to try and compete with them. This year Ipswich, Southampton and Leicester will come down and immediately be favourites to go back up. Yo yo clubs, too good / rich for the Championship, but not good enough for the PL. You either catch the crest of a wave like Luton or Ipswich have managed,, have 60% more income as a parachute club, or face the reality that getting out the Championship even for biggish clubs like Wednesday, Sunderland, Coventry, Rovers, West Brom, Boro, etc is a very difficult proposition. None of these are happy floating around in the Championship losing millions each month. All would much rather be minted in the PL. Let's hope we can bounce and maintain our play off place with the new coach. And somehow scrape promotion.

I've not seen any evidence this year to support this view. Fans have been stating that certain players are not good enough to remain in the top six, that the team will plummet like a stone into a relegation battle, or that mid-table mediocrity is a nailed on certainty for months on end. These views fail to acknowledge the strength and resilience of our senior players, the unity within the group and the lack of quality elsewhere. Plus we have a couple of our better players returning, we have more options following the January window and some of the squad are improving as the season progresses. Sheff United made us look average, Coventry and Swansea beat us easily, but they represent our worst defeats of the year. It's now March and we remain in the top six. I'm backing this squad. COYB.

Very pleasing that he was focusing on our title winning season in the mid 90's. What a bloke! I wonder if he preferred Atkins over Sherwood?

Bournemouth, Brighton, Fulham. 7th, 8th and 9th. Brentford in 11th. United, Spurs, Everton, West Ham all below them. Well done to the four of them.

For now, all that matters is the next ten weeks. If he keeps us committed and focused that will suffice. We know the players will give their all. We must put everything we have into finishing in the play offs. We need the players to regroup, energise and go again. I quite like this appointment. Wait till Beck, Tronstad and Ohashi are 100%. Plus the new signings ready to contribute. The squad will look strong. As always its up to the players and if he keeps it simple that will do for me.

Why don't you formulate your own opinions? Hedges has played circa 30 times this season. Starting 80% of them. We've been in the top six all season, but you think he's crap. Top 6 + regular starter = crap. Mmmm ok then you know best. I'll be glad if Hedges starts tomorrow. We've seen how poor we look with Cantwell and ACD away from home.

That's twice you have called me that. And your little hangers on think it's amusing. Grow up. It's a discussion forum. You are more than welcome to argue your point rather than childish little comments. Did you see Derek Fazackerly, John Bailey, Kevin Hird, Don Martin or Bobby Svarc play? I did. There are 19 worst teams in the division than us. They would love to be in our shoes. We cant compete with the parachute clubs. Like Ipswich and Luton last year we have to find a different way. Yes its blatantly obvious Derby are in big bother. He didnt leave for footballing reasons. i don't. Average folk dont get paid 15k a week. You've still avoided the question. Why did Eustace deserve a new contract? Because we won away at Hull? This is where my problem liies..I also believed what you wrote. But proper professionals dont apply to six different clubs, lie as to when approaches were made and discussions took place, hide in executive boxes whilst gainfully employed elsewhere and then shit all over the previous employer who gave them a chance, the true professionals who believed and trusted them, the new players who joined because of them and the fans that not only supported him this year, but also last year when we miraculously stayed up winning away at Leeds and Leicester. Whilst pretending he was fully committed. We won 2 of his last 11. He was hardly doing his job well, but no one complained at any time. We understood and were supporting him to the end. ‐------------------ I'm not in the know. But I know a lot of Rovers fans. This will come out in the wash eventually. I dont know if it's accurate. I was told last night he was on 800k at the Rovers. I was told he is now on 1.4 million at Derby. A big jump if so. ---- The Rams had already kicked off against Oxford United when Eustace got into the ground undetected by a crowd of 25,999 that had anticipated the appearance of the soon-to-be-anointed one. He was still Blackburn Rovers head coach when he took his place in an executive suite in the West Stand to follow the action on TV, mindful that any view of the ground could reveal his presence and the imminent reality of the move. He wasn't there to study the relegation battlers he would be leaving Premier League promotion chasers for. Although the forgettable goalless draw with the U's that lifted Derby out of the bottom three would have highlighted the enormity of the job ahead of him. Rather, he was there to feel the thrum of supporters, the energy of a crowd that he so fondly recalls feeding off as a combative Rams midfielder a decade ago. "I was there, but watching on the screens," he told BBC Sport. "I didn't want to get too close, but I wanted to feel the atmosphere again and be part of the matchday experience."

Eustace applying for jobs is a lot different to a club triggering a buy out clause. I know you were ahead of the game with this subject Jim. But you are typing without thinking. If Eustace could have left at anytime since last summer, we would have needed to have our chosen replacement in line ready to snap him up. For 8 months. Life isnt quite as smooth as that. People dont wait around for months on end hoping we will come calling. And why would we expect him to leave with 18 months on his contract? You think he emailed everyone to say he was applying for jobs elsewhere? Targets? Theres only one job. There's only one correct appointment. How wrong you are re the bit in bold. The results are the only thing that matters, not your frustration things have not moved as quickly as you like. We couldnt employ someone before Eustace left! And since he left we have won. What more do you want? And I notice you've not been predicting mid table mediocrity of late. Any reason for that as you seemed so sure if yourself for months on end. Even when it was pointed out we were in the play offs all season.

What more could we have expected of Lowe, the other coaches and the players? We want a winning team it's as simple as that.

By luck or design, the fact we have won two on the bounce with very decent performances has bought us some time. I'm happy Lowe gets another go away at Swansea. Fingers crossed we are all celebrating three on the trot. Regardless, I'd much rather they were diligent and gave it considered thought. It remains a prestigious position being our manager and they have recruited well of late. Eustace leaving clearly caught them by suprise.

What are you saying Rev? Who do you want? We'd both love Allardyce back for a crack, but it might go belly up hoofing it up to Gueye. We play a nice style at times courtesy of JDT. Warnock might keep the momentum going but these are both old men. I said early make Travis / Tronstad joint player manager. Do something that has some meaning to all concerned. Karanga, O'Neil, Lowe, Edwards, Wellens and the myriad of other managers out of work won't really cheer any of us up. Some foreign bloke won't either. Boateng or Boa Morte would be upsetting. Duff and Lowe would be supported by the fans. Gérard would give us profile and be a statement of intent. I'm not ITK but was told by someone yesterday it was Wellens that we want. Out of all the names in this post who maintains our spirit and harmony the most? That is the question I want to be addressed. ------ United are 11 places above us in the football league. After waxing 2 billion and more in the last decade. Hard to be successful in this industry.

We could get a new manager tomorrow and lose three on the spin. We could keep Lowe and lose three on the spin. All that is hyhypothetical. What is factual is two wins on the trot under Lowe. And its come at the perfect time.

I noticed you are not unhappy if we keep Lowe on. It just feels decent. Six from six suggests the players think that also. If we are nine from nine after Swansea there is no point overengineering things and trying to be cute. When the short term answer is staring us in the face.

I am very pleased the Boateng and Boa Morte rumours have calmed. i remain uninspired by the Oneil rumours as he comes across as a bit bland and has little Championshop experience. I personally don't think theres any rush and I'm in the 'if it isn't broke don't fix it camp'. I'm happy to rely on the players to self police unless the wheels fall off. We lost loads of games under Eustace. If we lose to Swansea it's not Lowes fault. We could easily lose any game under a new manager. Meanwhile if we keep playing with this energy, quality and intensity, it would be absolutely foolhardy to change things just for the sake of change. Let's see what happens at Swansea. 100% records are not to be sniffed at and its perfect timing for us to be gaining maximum points.

On the subject of Sanderson. I've been very impressed with how he has slotted in seamlessly and contributed to two clean sheets. Both games we have been relatively untroubled and he looks very comfortable at this level. He was described as 4th choice, couldn't get a game at Birmingham, low cost, etc. But he looks far better than that to me. I like his strength. aggression and positional play and as a defender clean sheets are your currency.

Evening. They were outside the bottom three when he took over. He's been employed to keep them up with fourteen games and 42 points to play for. He's got enough time. I've already told you dont be crediting our latest wins to Eustace. Why is everyone so bothered about Eustace? I don't get it. He isn't missing you, me, the players, or the Rovers one iota.

You believe he was entitled to demand a new contract. Why? You must realise how stupid that sounds. We could lose every game till the end of the season and finish 15th. Why is he deserving of a new contract at the start of February? Eustace wasn't paid to do a bad job. He was paid to do a good job. What are you not understanding? ----------- Anyway......What a brilliant response from the players to the chosen one leaving. Fucking dynamite. We look totally invigorated and full of confidence. Maybe folk were not as enamoured as we are led to believe. Or a change is as good as a rest.

Eustace couldn't possibly work for such terrible owners so applied for the Plymouth, Hull, PNE, Coventry, West Brom, Derby and Hong Kong under 17's in sheer desperation to leave. And be closer to home. But then the minute he was offered a new job he went back to the useless, terrible dysfunctional owners to try and negotiate a new contract, on improved terms. Happy to stay with more coin. Offski otherwise. Nothing to do with owners. Of course he had. We all knew he was off, before he supposedly did. Yes its about standards. We all bought into his togertherness mantra, well everyone apart from him that is. He was busy managing his bulk sms to anyone who would listen. Whilst preaching unity. He's been a total prick and I don't believe a word he says. Matty. Instead of asking me to detail the nuance, why don't you? I think it would take a much improved monetary offer to piss away the chance to take Rovers to the play offs and gamble on keeping Derby up. If he had got us into the play offs, the parachute clubs coming down, the likes of Luton if they stay up, plus lower placed PL clubs would have all had a look at him. His stock would never have been higher. If he takes Derby down he loses all that momentum and should a slow start befall him in League One they will sack him.

A few extra grand? X 52 = red panty night. Underlying? Or just lying? It's certainly not for footballing reasons at Derby. Plymouth, PNE and Hull are hardly a hop, skip and jump from the midlands are they? So it's not closer to family. We have been top six all year, so it's obviously not a toxic workplace. Contracts for players? More funding? Possibly. Every manager wants as much spent on players as possible and its hardly suprising the top four are amongst the wealthiest in our division. Longer contract. More pesos. Most certaiinly. Everyone on this board would immediately.switch jobs for an extea few grand a week. So i dont blane him.in the slightest. But dont spam me with family and unity whilst applying to six other employers please. If you do the job you are paid to do at work does that give you the right to demand a new improved contract whenever it suits you?

Of course it will be his fault if they go down. They have rarely lost by more than the odd goal all.year and were performing steadily until the recent bad run. He will be credited should they stay up. He will be criticised if they go down. They've gambled on him keeping them up. Quite. A bit extreme, but i for one will chuckle with every dropped point. I can't believe how much some of you are missing him. He's not missing you. Best get over it. Good job our players dont give a flying ..... Shit show we have here compared to Derby? Recently relegated, financial armeggeddon, 21 point deductions, accounting irregularities, current relegation fodder, manager sacked, lost 7 on the bounce....yeah there's no comparison. Eustace had a vested interest in spinning his departure away from the reality. Choose to believe that with pleasure. Or try and think of another 5000 reasons a week he left which my mate 47er has banned me from mentioning.

Come on 47er, we both know you enjoyed Derby getting bashed 4-0. Derby were shocking and there is clearly no footballing reason for going there.

It didn't look chaotic on the pitch yesterday. That's what matters. Whilst many are sad to see him go, I'm.not one of them. Regardless, I don't think anyone is pining for him. I love the new you. Remarkably tolerant. He was hiding in an executive box savouring Derby's atmosphere whilst gainfully employed at the Rovers. To state Derby afford him a better opportunity and footballing vision for the future is total nonsense. Anyway I promised 47er I would never mention the real reason he left ever again. Anyone lend me a fiver?

Be nice if all those were fit to start! Plymouth felt like a really big game. So does this. I guess they all will now. We played well at West Brom. I dont like ACD or Cantwell away from home. Important we stay grounded. No easy games and this will be tough. If they are not fit then I'd start with the following. Pears Brittain Sanderson Hyam Ribeiro Travis Buckley Dolan Weimman Hedges Gueye

I like your posts on this subject. Far less emotive than many. I largely agree with the above. But losing 10 million or more a year isn't cheering anyone up. There may well be an element of pride in decision making, but more so i think there is an inability to change things for the better. Chucking money at it hasn't worked. Different players, advisors, managers, consultants hasn't worked. There is not one person on this forum that can document a plan guaranteeing we get promotion within 2,3, 5 or 10 years. Not one. So how do we expect the Venkys to know how to get us promoted? Just because they don't know, doesn't mean they don't want. It would cost less to run a league one, or two club. Big clubs get marooned at this level for years on end. It's always been that way. It's very difficult to get out. Even when we were the richest under Uncle Jack we only wriggled into the play offs. Look at Luton this year awash with cash. They don't know how to get out of the division it's as simple as that.

Instead of answering the lad, you go on a childish personal attack. It's really not on. People state with informed certainty that the owners and management don't want promotion. But when asked why, they cannot formulate a decent argument. We have just signed six players adding to outgoings and weekly wages. Too little too late lots of people cried. But we were in no danger of relegation. If they didn't want promotion they would have signed nobody. But don't let logic or facts get in your way.