I have no real faith either way mate. Just saying what Cheston said.

It was interesting when this came about in the meeting with Cheston who brushed it aside basically saying that all of the debt is Venkys and they’re happy to keep paying. Apparently have given verbal and written assurances that they are happy to keep funding the club. But also empathised with the fans re the £150m and gave the impression that Venkys obv don’t see it as a huge sum of money or anything to worry about...

Yup, getting the right person is key. The results speak for themselves and so far, so good. As and when the manager stops getting results and cannot turn the ship around I’m sure from other conversations that he won’t need pushing. Im glad that the club are being sensible too. (At least we agree on something.) I’d hate for them to be impulsive and erratic every time something happened that they didn’t like. I’d also expect them as professionals to have results at the top of their agenda but not expect someone to make wine out of water ??

Exactly.

Argh come off it mate. The words “it’s a results business” were mentioned on multiple occasions last night. The reason we signed Walton, Tosin and Cunningham on loan was because we wanted better players than we could afford to buy. Which proves that a huge metric being applied is based on results. But also, why can’t people accept that results can be mitigated by lots of things like available finance etc. Our budget (fees plus wages) is Mid to low in the championship. (I think 11th in the last published stats). So what makes any of our fans assume that we should get in the top 6? Our results are pretty much where they should be. The question is if Mowbray can overachieve...

He didn’t blame the fans and he didn’t say there was nothing they could do about ffp. Quite the opposite actually. He said they have ‘several options’ available, none of them seemed drastic and he stressed that they hadn’t sold any of their assets and was dismissive of the potential of selling the ground and leasing it back. I couldn’t help seeing it from their side when they’re so open and then fans (who are very demanding) can’t even find it in themselves to buy a ticket. Maybe that was just me...but all Venky hate aside, I think the wider cultural issues and acceptability that you don’t need to contribute to something you care about is so sad. I couldn’t get behind Coyle Or Kean. I despised what they stood for. But I am in no doubt about the integrity of this leadership team, coaches and the players. So I’m more than happy to do my bit. Even if it’s 0.005% of a players salary.

I’ve never said it did. But having employed people in my life I know that getting the right person into the right seat is hugely important. Is Mowbray the right person? Yes I think so. He’s passionate, bought in and dedicated to Rovers. Is he in the right seat? His managerial record and experience suggests he’s qualified to do the job currently. His record is decent. Completely your opinion on Venkys. The players and coaches have been saying the same thing about Venkys being happy to spend for a decade. When I said it it wasn’t my opinion it was the opinion/s of those who work for them.

He addressed that and said that they had wanted to buy but could not get the quality they wanted in the permenant market. Had to weigh up the short term (we want to go up) vs the long term (sign a younger, more affordable alternative but have to develop them). They decided to go for the loan market and fully understand the implications but ultimately, as he said, they did replace 3 of the back 5 (inc keeper) in the first 11.

He talked openly about his recruitment strategy for the summer as well as the state of affairs with current players, young and old. He was genuinely so open that I wondered if it were a test of some sort. Some of the lads I’ve known all my life who’ve played, managed or coached at the top level aren’t so open. It was both shocking and refreshing. Felt real.

True Joe. And ultimately none of the debt is leveraged against us. It’s all Venkys. Yes, they royally fucked up but they continue to pay out of their own pockets to keep us afloat. Having seen and heard some of the Hardcore fans who have divorced themselves from the club in the last 10 years, I don’t think half of the fan base would continue supporting Rovers like the owners even if they had the money.

Yes, most are thankfully.

Not star struck mate, (if you knew the truth you’d prob feel a bit embarrassed by that comment). But definitely respectful...that’s how it has to be with footballers who are under huge social pressure. As for Mowbray, I’ve said on many occasions that I don’t know him. Never pretended otherwise. more importantly, the people I trust with that information and they know who they are, can ask me anytime and I’d be happy to tell them privately. Most have already had whatever I heard last night in conversations I’ve had this morning.

Tell that to Bolton fans...mad mad view this!

Penny’s make pounds brother and owt is better than nowt! Like I said....we have very little in common in relation to this.

I’m happy to talk about anything which was public record to anyone on here. Most has been covered.

Opinions.

Not a lie. You announced it proudly. Had you been looking around at the audiences you’d have seen the disdain. Wow, hypocrisy of the highest level. You’re not funding Venkys by paying. They’re funding us!! What you are doing by not paying is limiting your teams ability to compete. Which is odd because you seem to have a strong opinion on how the club should be run. Whilst I don’t agree, I completely respect those who have made a moral decision not to go. But to go every week on comps whilst taking the moral high ground is unthinkable for me. I could go complimentary every week too but I choose to pay. We are a million miles apart.

£1.3m was what was left from last summer, so the budget will be refreshed and also effected by players leaving etc making ‘room’. One interesting pOint by Cheston was on ffp. He stated clearly that ffp is always judged on this years and the previous two years accounts. Meaning that so long as you lose the same amount every year (and accumulatively that doesn’t exceed £39m over the three years) then your budget literally refreshes every season and you have the same spending power. If that makes sense. He also said that whilst our submissions for ffp were due in at the end of the month (feb), but we can make some further adjustments if needed up until the end of June when our accounting period ends. My observation is that a profit sale like Dack for example every three years would make huge dent in our ability to spend as a £20m fee would effectively make us whole for that year which would increase our spending power over any three year period. Interesting also (as I’ve said SOOO many times) that in particular Mowbray said on numerous occasions that failing all else, if he really wanted to spend more Money, the owners had told him he only had to ask. My overriding emotion now following the meeting is that we have a leadership structure who do care passionately about the club. Mowbray is far from dull. He’s passionate, animated, BRUTALLY honest about himself, his players, the market. I can 100% see why the lads including Jonty and Dunny love him so much. He hasn’t got tons of cash sloshing about but he does have a plan on how to use it better. Which he talked to me about openly and in detail. Based off the meeting and my first ever 10 mins with him one to one, he is absolutely the man to take us on for as long as he has that desire!

I represented BRFCS impeccably. With respect and humility. I spoke at length with TM and briefly with SW and Robert Coar. I was open with them about a lot of the concerns on here. I’ve also privately spoken with members on here and I am happy to do so with people who do not sneer and look down their noses in order to strengthen their agenda. But I don’t have to tell you anything you big baby!

Just read the notes mate. No point in me providing my insight really for you and a few others to go on with your own agenda. I went for myself, to try to understand my club. The most embarrassing moment of the evening was when a ‘fan’ stood up and proudly admitted to our CEO that he won’t pay for a ticket and goes every week on complimentary tickets.

Nah mate...I was just being respectful to the Mods who put their trust in me as I didn’t know how it worked.

He definitely did say at the moment and I did pick up on it but it wasn’t clarified.

I really appreciated the opportunity mate. Was really interesting I thought.

I’m not sure if there’s rules or etiquette about talking freely?

The meeting was ok. There was actually very little skirting around the issues. But the real interesting stuff went on afterwards. Mowbray SO open...my first one. Would recommended to any Rovers fans!