I have heard that Chapman was due to have a meeting with Mowbray a couple of weeks ago, but for some reason it didn't happen.

Villa could be in for a torrid time too, so maybe we can stay fairly safe?

A local boy, who played in the top flight for Rovers and represented his country, whilst a Rovers player. In the modern era, how many players can say that at any club? For me he lived the dream that most of us had and for that reason I will always consider him to be a Rovers legend.

Its a long time ago and he is ex Burnley, but a personal friend of mine, albeit a fair bit older than me and in bad health these days. Brian Pilkington has one England cap to his name and by all accounts was an absolute Wizard on the left wing. I didn't see Brian play, but he won the league title with Burnley in 1960 and I have been with him many times, when people have said he is the best player they ever saw. The best example I can give of that, is one night at a Sportsman's dinner with him Frank Worthington was the quest speaker. He was almost kissing Brian's feet, saying how he walked miles to watch him play. On the strength of being a mate of Brian's, Worthington gave me a lift from the function at Chorley to my home at the time, in Bolton and insisted on dropping me right at my front door.

It has to be the greedy unmotivated players, who are still picking up a large wedge that creates the problems for these teams. Once relegated, if the players on big money with little or no drop in salary, feel like they can't be bothered any more, their club has a big problem. It is surprising how many clubs have dropped out of the big league and failed to make it back and I think that missing out on an instant return, creates huge problems. I see trouble at Hull and Villa this coming season, but we shall see.

I feel confident, that we won't be in a relegation scrap and I don't necessarily think the Championship will be harder than it was the season before last. I am certain Bolton have still got big problems and expect them to finish in a relegation spot. Add Rotherham to that and that's two of the relegation slots already sorted. Reading, Birmingham and Forrest are going to have some issues and who know, we might get someone like Villa, or even one of the relegated premier league sides having problems, like those that Sunderland had. All in all with Mowbray there from the start and no more players there of the disruptive type, I think we are in for a decent campaign.

I met him during his first spell with Rovers and had a good chat with him and a few other players. I got a very fortunate invite to a fund raising night, in Manchester in aid of the Jasón Roberts foundation. I was very close to a table full of Rovers players, Bentley being one of them. i made it known I was a big fan and literally sat amongst the players for about half an hour. Bentley did say at that point how much he was loving his time at Ewood and felt very settled. I know he was hardly likely to say anything else to a fan, who he didn’t know, but he came across as actually loving his time there. I didn’t know he had gambling problems and it is a pity that after his period at Ewood, he fell away so badly. The highlight for me, was his hat trick against Man U in the day I think he signed permanently. A great night as we ran out 4-3 winners, after leading 4-1 at one point

I think a few Rovers fans are hoping Villa win, as it is then more likely that Cairn will be transferred and we will get part of the profit. Sounds like a close game so far.

England struggled a bit in that game and were behind at half time. They drew level in the second half and got a late winner, after the Chinese had gone down to ten men, close to the end. The winner was set up by Armstrong, with a ball played across the area and tucked in at the far post by Abraham

It is certainly , with very interesting and now that the cat is out of the bag, with regards to now much they have really put in perhaps more fans than ever can now see the bigger picture. Are they naïve investors, who have been taken for a ride, or are they clever manipulative people, who sized an opportunity?

Its a pity he can't play every Easter Sunday, as he normally rises to the occasion.

I thought his first name was Jason?

Tumbling out of the premier league is seen as a financial disaster and when a club is heading that way, understandably you more often that not, see a change of manager. Even Leicester did the unthinkable and sacked Ranieri, the season after he completed, what was probably the biggest miracle ever in English football. Venkys surely knew of the consequences of this happening, but gladly sat back, whilst Kean took us from the top half to a last game shoot out in the first year and completed the job in the second year. This was with a complete novice, who they were paying ridiculous sums of money. Even after the relegation he survived and was never sacked he resigned. Given how much he cost the club, why was this allowed to happen?

Just as a reminder, Premier league money and parachute money since Venkys arrived has been in the region of £130 Million. Sales of Phil Jones, Samba, Nzonzi and Gael Givet alone total £38 Million too.

Nicely summed up that and I agree with all of that. Don't forget the bonus in one manager's contract, based on league one seasons. What foresight that was!

I think you may be referring to this. The big hole is there for us all to see. None stranger than those signed by us and nearly all had the same agent, who of course worked for free, slept at the training ground and had the place rocking so much, it nearly fell over!!! As you will note their is no mention of unexplained hole in the accounts. What I meant by the hole was that Agents had "earned" a lot of money from players transactions, both in an out. As you will see from the link below, it looks like some of this was excessive. Also cast your mind back to Ruben Rochina and the fee paid for him and the commission paid. That money paid out, has created a hole in the finances of the club, as this money could have been spent in a better way. imagine for example if Mowbray was suddenly given the £3.5 million, mentioned below, to spend this summer. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/10290996/Blackburn-Rovers-were-biggest-spenders-on-agents-fees-in-the-Championship-last-season-despite-underperforming.html

He was certainly on good money for being a Billy smart type of Character, you know what I mean Robbie? ;-)

Great post and of course these players were collectively known, as the five musca Eusebios, as the motto on signing them was all for one and one for all.

At the risk of going over old ground, given the last few posts, you have to wonder, where the £200 million plus went for starters. This was Premier league money for 2010/11 premier league money for 2011/12 parachute money for the following 4 years and then the players that were sold for big money, Phil Jones and Chris Samba, just being two examples. I am not having a go, because he is a Claret, but Sympathetic Claret, naively states it went on, manager pay offs, agents, players wages ETC. Yes of course it did, but the big question is, who really benefited from most of this? We have never got to the bottom of it and never will, as there have been some fantastic efforts to bring some of this skulduggery out into the open. Despite last years success, I cannot accept and never will accept that Venkys, were not complicit in at least some of this. I love Blackburn Rovers as much as anyone, but I will NEVER feel comfortable under the current ownership.

The big hole is there for us all to see. None stranger than those signed by us and nearly all had the same agent, who of course worked for free, slept at the training ground and had the place rocking so much, it nearly fell over!!!

The sums have been done before and when you look at the money brought in on big player sales, premier league money and parachute money for 4 years, there is a big hole somewhere.

Their recent statement could have mentioned something about their plans, unless it wasn't really them, who made it.

I fully agree. It was hypothetical, so lets say one of our posters says, " I have it in good faith".

I guess you answer this question yourself. Whilst we are in the Championship and finish perhaps, mid table, it gives us a platform for mounting a promotion challenge. I am not suggesting we stay there as I have stated, another promotion in 2 - 5 years would do. The other key thing of course, is we are ripe for a purchase, at this level, for anyone, who wants to take a punt on the famous Blackburn Rovers and take us to the big time again.