Yes, last May, the Northcote Leisure Group sold off " Ribble Valley Inns ", the four " Gastro-pubs " they owned ( Including the Clog & Billycock & The Three Fishes at Mitton ). The buyers were Brunning and Price, a division of " The Restaurant Group ", a publically quoted Ltd Company, listed on the Stock Exchange. They also own the " Frankie & Bennys " and " Garfunkels " chains. It was announced last week that Northcote Leisure itself, had been acquired by Britannia Hospitality, owner of the Stafford Hotel in London. The local management team are being retained, including Craig Bancroft, who together with Chef Nigel Haworth, built up the Northcote and it's reputation since they took it over in the 1980's. Nigel Haworth stepped down from the business in 2017, although he remains an " Ambassador " for the Hotel. In the accounts to 31st March 2018, filed at Companies House on 25th February, it clearly states that the " Northcote at the Rovers " contract had been renewed in March 2017, until 2023. So clearly something has happened to enforce a change. The ultimate owner of Northcote Leisure prior to it's sale to Britannia Hospitality, of course, was either the Walker Trust, or one of the Walker family investment companies.

Claret in peace as ever, Think you've had a cracking season so far, certainly better than I, and I suspect many of you thought possible .. The madness of the " Championship " seems to continue season after season with anyone capable of beating anyone else " on the day ", excepting maybe Ipswich and Bolton . 12 points currently separate West Brom in 3rd on 50 points and Stoke, lying 15th with 38 points ... Do you think you can carry it on for the last 18 games, or is the squad lacking in depth should you get a few injuries/suspensions ? Mowbray seems to be popular amongst my Rovers mates, regarded as a " safe pair of hands " after the revolving door years ! Can you come with a late run ?

Repayment of directors loans & other debt, long needed upgrading of our Training facilities and Ground, Players wages and into our Profit & Loss account ... He's doing fine, thanks !

I think a lot of League 1 / Championship Clubs would like the " handicap " of wealthy owners investing £399k a WEEK, by way of further share purchases ... If you know of another potential owner prepared to fund the Club to this extent, then please let us know ... Looking forward to next year's Championship Derby ....

I would suspect around £150m - £180m, but relegation would obviously impact severely on that figure...although we are debt free .. I would doubt Watford and Bournemouth would be worth that much more, Bournemouth especially in view of their Ground and their proposals to move to a new Stadium. I can see the case for Villa & Leeds being move valuable in view of their potential, though. Mike Ashley turned down a bid of £250m for Newcastle last December, holding out for between £300m - £350m, if you believe Press reports ... As for Rovers, it would depend on how much of the £152,250,000 that Venkys have put into the Club they were prepared to write off .... without that happening, there's no likelihood of a change in ownership any time soon, I suspect ! ??

What with missing this mid-week game, and with the International break in three weeks time, it could be a great time for young Bradley to break the back of his Community Service order ...... just a suggestion ! ?

The " Match Day Heroes " idea was an absolute own-goal worthy of Shane Duffy ! Whoever thought up that hare brained idea for a wealthy Premier League Club to try to obtain free matchday Labour from 30 people in a generally low-wage town needs their bumps felt ! As for our form, ask me in 5 games time ! I said before a ball was kicked I thought Cardiff & Huddersfield would struggle, and they would go down with one other. We just don't want to be the " one other ". Getting Defour and Brady fit and playing will be crucial to an upturn in form, I fancy .....

Seeing as you asked, the International break can't come quickly enough as far as I'm concerned .... get the injured players 10 days nearer being fit, reset the season and go again .... Man Utd is a shot for nothing, as far as I'm concerned. I'm relaxed for the moment about this season, as I think Cardiff, Huddersfield and one other will fill the relegation spots.. just hope we're not the " one other " !! Very encouraging start from your lot, and turning down £5m+ for Dack shows at least some intent...

There's a few tears being shed over here .... it was widely known that he'd been unwell, but it's still very sad news !! He was our Ronnie Clayton or Bryan Douglas, if you will, and as a previous poster said, a thoroughly nice man ! RIP Jimmy !! ?

May be true, Stuart ! Those of us who were around for the Orient game in 87 are still pinching ourselves that we're in the top flight, as some never thought we'd live to see the day !! As for the younger/newer fans, they'll need to develop a sense of perspective if they think that top half of the Premier League is the " norm " ! Objectively, given the town's size, and notwithstanding football hotbed, the history etc.. we should probably be mid-table Championship !!

You were doing well until you got to Rovers on your list ......

Sounds plausible, thanks for that ....

Claret fan in peace as ever... Interesting to see the name Gawthorpe over Alexandra Meadows area, anybody know why this might be the case ?

I suspect you're correct , Ian My view is that the Venkys were right royally taken advantage of, by unscrupulous parties, in the early days of their ownership of BRUFC.... I've been slated on here lately for glorying in Rover's decline, whereas that is untrue. From my very first post, I expressed a desire that Rovers should be back in the hands of local owners, much as Burnley have been, who have a handle on public opinion and can build the Club up. Ideally, Venkys should have left these matters to a trusted local management team and written the cheques accordingly. Nothing would please me more than to see BFC, BRFC & PNE all in the Premier League together, with Brighton and Bournmouth back in the lower leagues.... Unfortunately, some on here are about as conversant with a set of accounts as I am with the intricacies of Ball Room dancing ! The truth is that the Venkys have funded the Club to the tune of over £20m over the last 14 months, which has allowed them to regain their Championship status !

Player's Wages, Agent's Fees & Managerial Pay-Offs........simples !!

The debt is the amount that Venkys London Ltd " owe " the Parent Company based in India, due to their " investment " or purchase of Shares.... hence the debt showing as " Called up Share Capital " .... this in addition to any Bank debt, Loans, etc in the Accounts... Like Bolton's debt funded by Eddie Davis, and Wigan's funded by Dave Whelan, it isn't a big problem if the Venkys don't want it back and and are prepared to invest more. Once the funding tap is turned off, as Davis did, then problems mount up very quickly....

The debt is going up because Venkys are issuing more shares in Venkys London Limited , and buying them through their associated Indian Registered Company, Venkateshwera Hatcheries Pvt Ltd . The money raised from share issues is going to support the everyday running of the Football Club, and shows in the accounts as " Called up Share Capital ". It's highly improbable that the Bank of India would invest in Venkys London Ltd on their own account... I suspect Venkys have invested somewhere north of £130m in Blackburn Rovers, in the years since they took control ....

No, just paying the wages and keeping the Gas and Electric on ... IMHO.... Venkys would need to agree to £60m over the next 12 months ( Transfer Budget & Wages ) to give you half a chance of a Play-Off spot, given the Clubs joining from relegation and the Clubs already there ...

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/07406020/filing-history

But they've put in over £20.5m in the last 14 months .....

No, my friend.....anyway, they're at the Central Library not the Town Hall !! I see you're not arguing with the figures though ? An effective subsidy to cover operating losses of £ 400, 000 p.w. on conservative estimates...

" Venky's already picking up £ 2m deficit as a L1 club.. " I think you mean £ 20, 772, 156 , which is what they've issued by way of further shares in the 14 months since January 2017 ...

You think you've got problems with Tim Farron.....we've got Alastair Campbell, Bliar's apologist Press Secretary... The questions could've been rather more entertaining if he'd specified " Blackburn Rovers 2010-17 " as his subject, and would've brought the Venky's tenure into focus on prime-time Television....

Despite the dog's abuse I took from roughly 1986 - 2012 ( ish ), from my Blue's supporting mates, the grown-up in me would prefer to see you lot get your Club back from these Clowns, have Rovers back in local hands and fighting back !! Burnley are incredibly fortunate to have the Board that we have, and financially, our recent success on the field could not have been better timed... I've actually chipped in a couple of times to your various " fighting funds " ....I can't believe I'm actually admitting that, especially to someone with your User-name SG194 !

Is " Bob " still around ?? That forecast is spookily accurate !!