Surprised Jake Cooper was on bench for Millwall tonight, always liked him a real threat offensively too. The type of player who would be a realistic target, price and wages wise

The other thing to consider why things are slow,. 1. List of targets is 8 or 9 players, we need minimum of 4 additional, however fees being quoted is gets you two or three at a push, however the wages numbers dont stack. 2. The hope is as the window gets to the end, players push for moves and price/wages demands drop. 3. Until we know who we can get with the remaing budget or at a reduced fee, then pushing special request at every corner is not going to happen, its been tried once this summer but as previously mentioned he went sheff utd as wage demands were beyond our limits. 4. I don't think GB is in panic mode just yet, but the closer we get to the end of the window, the more sweat beads will appear if the market dont open up. 5. Then there is the question what if anything of the budget we hold onto until January. I don't think we appreciate sometimes how difficult it is to juggle the balls when the wage/transfer budget dont split into anything more than a busted flush.

£10 million does not include the "special request" for the special player. This request was granted for the lad who went sheff utd, but the wages blew that deal straight away. The request button is for a player though, and not a transfer budget top up!

I expect £10 mill to be spent (heard this is the healthy budget), which will include loan fees. If BBD is sold I suspect that half of that will also be reinvested. The stumbling block is and will remain the wage budget, under no circumstances will the wage budget be increased. This certainly makes the pool smaller, given kids in the prem are on £20k plus PW. Which has us shopping championship, League 1, Europe or Prem loans. I believe the budget last season was the same budget, but we failed to spend it, with again wage demands either thwarting us, players chosing to go elsewhere, or in other cases targets not being deemed an improvement on what we had. With what we've brought in so far including Morton loan, we've probably already spent £3-£4 million. Regardless how the payment arrangements have been agreed, this will not be deferred from this seasons budget. In other words if we have agreed installments, thats just the payment mechanism and the budget has been decreased by the final figure on these deals

I dont think any of them come out with credit tonight, bar Ince and Reading. Played us off the park, and we just never got going. The defence time and time again had no out ball, whilst to a man we wanted 1 or 2 seconds more on the ball than Reading would afford it. Tactically, i actually don't know what the gameplan was, whatever it was it was not nice to watch. Top of the league after 4 games, is a fantastic start. We definately need some experienced heads in this team though, and over the next couple of weeks i think at least 4 players in, providing we dont lose any.

Is it an exclusive? Club have maintained throughout they want him to sign deal, also Batty too, but understand his stock has risen due to England call up. They have maintained they are negotiating and hope he will sign a deal. The article says he is close to signing deal but may still leave. Talk about click bait, If Spurs bid, like any other player, lad will want to take it. Best we can hope for is he signs deal before we accept bid, so we can get a better fee

Had to do a take two on an article today claiming Travis was Blackburn born and bread and had played every age group for Rovers. He was actually released by Liverpool and signed his first pro deal for us, and is from Merseyside. Embarrassing journalism

https://puntoseguido.cl/de-la-uc-a-ser-el-reemplazo-de-ben-brereton-en-inglaterra/

Sorry not been about lately, mad busy. I have a second meeting now scheduled in for back end of September, to continue with the questions I had. We both felt the last meeting was productive and i look forwards to the next one

Their season ends in December, and being on loan elsewhere is not an automatic blocker, the terms of that loan can include a recall. Its another name linked and nothing more

Still interest there, expect this to go to end of window, like anything the deal needs to suit the coffers. Another name though is Chilean Alexander Aravena

Dacks injuries have a been a nightmare, he hasnt looked the same player, but hasnt had the run of games either. Hopefully he can get fit and can impact, because on his day he's arguably our most gifted player. Sammie has is all to prove at Championship, as his two previous attempts he has been more miss than hit, if the fee is to be believed, that's some gamble. I'm very much on the fence with his signing until I see what else arrives, I hope he is one of a number of signings and not the "marquee signing" which Venkys would authorise in exceptional circumstances. Brereton still being here is a bonus, Brittain and Sammie decent enough start in captures, but we are still a long way off to being close to being a better squad this season, than the one that ended last season

Dont think this is an easy start given only one player in, and plenty out. New managers in both dugouts. Positives, we have retained our attacking players to date and have goals in us. Negatives - Think we will miss Lenihan and Van Hecke so keeping a clean sheet maybe tough ask. Going to go with a 1-1 draw

Be sad if Phillips get nabbed, nothing club can do. We have a similar issue with Batty who also hasn't signed deal yet and is equally highly regarded after England represention

Alioski, who is currently without a club, was really good at Leeds being linked with Beskitas now on a free, Wouldnt mind him here tbh, but could have a baring on their alleged interest in Styles

Never met him, but comes across as a nice cookie, that being said transfer wise, I cant recall any scoop if he has ever had bar confirming a deal/bid once its widely known and been reported elsewhere. Pains me to say it, but Nixon and the Nationals are who gets it out these days, as their network just far greater. Also Broughton won't speak to any journo's at present, so imagine the default statement from Rovers is "not our department, speak to Greg"

13th Not signed him yet A Wharton Burnley ( 😞) 1st

I dont actually care what Sharpe thinks he knows or doesn't know tbh. He can only write/say based on what people will or will not tell him Throwing "journo's a bone" is a direct quote from me from the same meeting which I said is not a bad thing in terms of "the silence has been deafening", and no news can create growing frustrations It was very clear the club prefer not to throw any bones to any journo's and are working extremely hard within to ensure that remains the case. We are 100% tracking him, have 100% not had a bid accepted yet, have 100% made contact, and have 100% not moved on. Do I think he will be a rovers player before the window shuts? I think Styles wont be a Barnsley player and a transfer to rovers will be entirely down to choice from the player in terms of who else also comes in for him. The fee and wages will not be an issue to Rovers. My info which is agent related was very much down to add on's, sell on clauses etc. Barnsley's valuation of the player is widely known amongst interested clubs including Rovers. I didn't attend a meeting at Rovers to discuss players, it just happened to come out as it was linked to the silence. I have zero reason to tell any lies, or indeed mention who confirmed it at Rovers, i think they call it "libel defamation" nowadays to write something about someone which is not true online when quoting "they said"

With Vale, Leanard et al, be a strange one, although he does seem to have represented England. Its just a name at this point, will see if anything more concrete appears over coming days.

Seems an odd name, pretty much zero experience

Anybody know much about Jay Stansfield? A name mentioned regarding a possible loan. Can't say he is one I've heard of, but name cropped up earlier in a chat I was having

In fairness to Sharpe, i just dont think Rovers tell anyone with fear of others coming in, fees being inflated/matched etc. If people think we have money to spend, it potentially inflates the next deal. Its better to potray we are skint and quietly try and get it done. Other journos have probably a wider network to tap into outside ewood. Nixon talks with all clubs, agents from decades of running national stories. Even radio lancs only report on it when its done

Leaks were discussed as the club is doing brilliantly in not having many. Strangely Nixons name came up from Waggott. I did comment although no leaks can be good, chucking a journo a bone can sometimes raise optimism as silence creates further worries. In truth though, discussing transfers, players etc was not part of my agenda and it was only briefly touched on during the Nyambe discussion when I commented that Brittain seems a decent replacement and that I'd heard prior to coming in we was close on Styles, he was genuinely surprised that I knew.

I remain open minded, it was a break the ice meeting. I always attend meetings suited and booted, as time is important to me, and they need to remain professional. It was important to me, that the questions were answered fully, and if anything were not the same questions which get asked time and time again which come with generic answers and less meat than a KFC chicken wing. It was also incredibly important that both of us got value from the meeting which would result in a follow up meeting to keep the dialogue going, and that there is actions to support answers, and a clear plan of re-engagement with the supporters who are concerned/no longer attend. Throw away comments, Boris Johnson style speeches do not impress me, and i'm pretty sure Steve Waggott knows after meeting one that i'm "ruthless" and dont suffer fools easily. I genuinely think progress can be made, as this is not the same type of person than the days of top trumps with the likes of Agnew, who was just a snake, and quite frankly usually walked away with his tail between his legs, as his brain could not compute quick enough. I believe meetings need to be methodical, have a purpose, and have clear objectives. Where we are, where we want to get to, and how are we going to get there? If it was just questions and answers, i'd have little interest in a) attending, b) continuing the communication. There is obviously some massive issues, our attendances, sponsorship clearly show this. I'm fortunate that these type of meetings regarding football i've attended quite a lot, from having them with the club, to having them with the top brass at the FA, EFL, Premier League, Parliament, in addition to other executives at other clubs through my previous national council status on the FSF. I'm first to admit, 10 years ago this was well out of my comfort zone, but as time progresses you evaluate yourself, and look at ways to improve delivery and also being more focused what you want from the said meeting This weeks meeting I set the following goals. 1. If its wishy washy, i would politely end the meeting and walk out, as i have zero interest in wasteing either mine or his time, we are both busy and i dont need bedazzling with smart speak of no real substance. 2. I wanted to know exactly what power he and the board have, that structure pre GB. (Not got onto current structute yet) . 3. I wanted to know how he got the job, what that process was and importantly who put him forward. (Given previous agent involvement at our club and the former MD of SEM Kentaro being Mowbrays agent) 4. I wanted to read his eyes, his body language. 5. I wanted to ask just a few questions, as too much gets lost in translation and takes away merit/content and can become rather ambigious and easily skirted past. He has confirmed in writing another meeting, date to be set, and also that he felt the meeting was a good starting block to continue dialogue and see what develops.