Leeds got no sell on for Gray only because they gambled on promotion & inserted a clause onto his deal allowing him to move for that amount if they were not promoted. Rovers got the low fee that they did for Wharton because they/Waggott/Pasha/Venkys "willingly" accepted such a low amount (even with the sell on) after negotiation, at the worst time to sell a player (|January window)

"about £30M"

Starts this evening for Montgomery - drew 1-1 On the bench Olson - drew 1-1 Not involved in matchday squad Duru - won 1-0 - injured There are a few games for our loanees in Leagues 1 & 2 on Sky later this week in case anyone is interested in watching them Thursday 8pm kick off - Markanday - game on Sky Sports Football Friday 7:45pm kick off - Garrett - game on Sky Sports + Saturday 12:30 kick off - Batty - game on Sky Sports + Saturday 12:30 kick off - O'Riordan - game on Sky Sports +

Two very poorly chosen loans at two struggling teams with two managers who have been sacked. The Tranmere interim manager has had a decent run of results (at least in comparison to his predecessor... unbeaten in the last 5), so has kept faith with the players currently in the team, so there is the faint hope that Garrett could still play a part this season if injuries/or a change in form allow

The games that Duru has missed have been through injury, and he is now out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture of his foot Which is of course a worry, but not the same worry as him not playing due to a lack of (or perceived lack of) talent/application/etc

Starts this weekend for Batty - drew 0-0 - replaced in injury time - looks to have a dangerous long throw O'Riordan - drew 0-0 Olson - lost 1-0 Litherland - lost 3-1 Montgomery - won 2-0 Eastham - lost 3-1 Barrett - lost 2-1 Honor - drew 2-2 On the bench Garrett - drew 0-0 Goddard - drew 3-3 - on the bench following a return from injury Not involved in matchday squad Duru - drew 2-2 -apparently has a stress fracture of his foot & is out for the rest of the season No game this weekend Markanday Vale - currently injured Saadi Mafoumbi

It would have been good to see him get his full debut, but it seems Atcheson is further up the hierarchy at the moment (judging by him being named on the bench ahead of Litherland in recent weeks). Maybe at least in part due to Atcheson's size? It will be very interesting to see how Litherland's trademark runs (vaguely Rothwell like for those who haven't seen it, which is mental considering he is a centre back) fare in men's football. I hope (and think) he will do well.

Litherland has signed for Curzon Ashton (currently 5th in the 6th tier and in the play off spots) on loan until the end of the season, could make his debut tomorrow

It is probably in an effort to try to make the masses get excited in the summer when the "new project" involves them being promoted to replace the experienced players (Travis/Tronstad/Brittain/Hyam/Dolan) leaving as the players leaving "do not fit how Ismael wants to play", when the reality is that they just want paying average Championship wages. * Not that Dunn, Litherland, Atcheson, Tyjon, Powell etc do not show promise, just that they will likely be asked to replace some of our better (and most experienced) players

On the bench this evening Olson - lost 1-0 - made his first appearance in about a month on Saturday following injury, so this may be a case of being careful not to have him play too much, too soon

Look at the rest of that U20 squad, several have not featured at first team level. some are on loan at League 1 & 2 clubs, at least one is on loan in non league. So I do not think it is a ringing endorsement of ACDs form this season Goalkeepers: Elyh Harrison (Manchester United), Max Merrick (Hampton & Richmond, on loan from Chelsea), Matthew Young (Salford City, on loan from Sunderland) Defenders: Max Alleyne (Manchester City), Kaelan Casey (West Ham United), Kellen Fisher (Norwich City), Ben Nelson (Oxford United, on loan from Leicester City), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa), Ashley Phillips (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Oliver Scarles (West Ham United) Midfielders: Tobias Collyer (Manchester United), Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Leeds United), James McConnell (Liverpool), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Sydie Peck (Sheffield United), Jacob Wright (Norwich City, on loan from Manchester City) Forwards: William Alves (Cardiff City, on loan from Leicester City), Amario Cozier-Duberry (Rovers, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), George Earthy (Bristol City, on loan from West Ham), Romain Esse (Crystal Palace), Divin Mubama (Manchester City), Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), Dane Scarlett (Tottenham Hotspur)

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25017665.blackburn-rovers-beaten-bolton-wanderers-lfa-youth-cup-semi/ Rovers’ youngsters missed out on a place in the LFA Professional Youth Cup final following a late 3-2 defeat against Bolton Wanderers. Valentin Joseph and Joseph Boggan both got on the scoresheet during an entertaining second half at Brockhall. But the visitors netted twice in the last 10 minutes to set up a final against Blackpool, who overcame Burnley on penalties in their last four tie. Bolton started brightly and Connor Lewis sent an effort over the bar after some good work by David Abimbola. Rovers’ fight sight of goal came from Frank Vare’s free kick but the midfielder, who has been around the senior squad at times this season, saw his strike fly over. Abimbola continued to cause problems and thought he had opened the scoring from close range, but a Rovers defender made a crucial block. The towering striker also delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal after using his strength to get down the left, but nobody gambled at the far post. The opener came when Daeshon Lawrence picked out the bottom corner with a low drive from the edge of the area. Jamie Grayson had a chance to double the lead but couldn’t convert at the far post after getting on the end of a corner. Harrison Rice also saw a header clip the top of the crossbar as Lewis’ deliveries caused problems. Rovers didn’t have many chances in the first half but nearly got back on level terms minutes before the break when George Barlow made an impressive save to deny Joseph Boggan. The hosts improved in the second half and Nathan Dlamini forced Barlow into another smart stop at his near post after a mazy run. The equaliser came after more good play by Dlamini down the left. The visitors failed to clear his cross and Valentin Joseph pounced to slot home. Bolton had a big chance to regain the lead when Lewis seized a sloppy backpass but Blake Wolsoncroft made a good block. Moments later at the other end, Rovers were awarded a penalty and Boggan kept his cool to send Barlow the wrong way from the spot. The tie had turned on its head but Bolton got back level 10 minutes from time when Wolsoncroft couldn’t keep hold of a cross from the left and Lewis reacted quickest to prod home. There was one final twist in the tale as Leigh collected the ball on the edge of the box, beat his man with a clever turn and fired into the bottom corner. Lewis had a chance to wrap up the result in stoppage time but dragged an effort wide of the near post after Corey Nuttall had won back possession high up the pitch. Tobias Ritchie also tried an audacious effort from near the halfway line, but Wolsoncroft was relieved to see the ball drop just wide of the post. Rovers applied plenty of pressure in the final stages but couldn’t find a breakthrough, with Bolton defending resiliently to get over the line. Rovers: Wolsoncroft, McIlroy, Pates, Davies, Eze, Vare, Dlamini, Mansbridge, Potter, Boggan. Subs: Decandia, Thompson, Kelley-Quinn, Shaw, Sandhu. Bolton: Barlow, Taylor, Oliver, Grayson, Rice, Smith, Irwin, Mawditt, Abimbola, C Lewis, Lawrence. Subs: Kendrick, Lomax, Leigh, Nuttall, Ritchie, Thomas, L Lewis.

U18s lost 1-0, Sergeant went off with an injury late in the first half. It would seem that Rovers did name 5 subs on the bench, but neither Google nor the Premier League seems to know the names of 2 of them, despite the 2 unnamed players both getting on the pitch

Not sure what he has done since playing that game at Huddersfield (or before then to be honest), but he was playing for Huddersfield on trial in late February. Played against Preston B on the 25th Feb

That was one of the stranger contract renewals ever given out, not quite Ben Gladwin levels, but right up there. The only thing that would make any sense was that Rovers originally had an even lower budget than what we ended up with, and Saadi was going to be a squad option, before someone decided that a pound & a Mars bar wasn't quite a big enough budget and that they should maybe throw in a bag of marbles & a half smoked cigarette too