Unpopular opinion, but I can see why outsiders would come to this conclusion. It certainly draws parallels with McCarthy at Ipswich. After 6 years large swathes of the fan base had become restless and disillusioned, probably with the quite dour and pragmatic football - following strong seasons of 6th, 7th and 9th, they'd started to finish mid-table, 16th and then 12th. 29 March 2018 - In the end, they got their wish - McCarthy resigned and the new dawn could begin - welcome Paul Hurst from Shrewsbury... a relatively unproven manager, certainly at Championship level. 13th April 2019 - Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert said the club's relegation is "gut-wrenching for everybody" after their drop to League One was confirmed. I would image to those who aren't as engrossed in the club and hang on to every result, article or interview, this would be seen as an unnecessary risk. We've rolled the dice... taken a risk.... the fans got what they wanted - that's how many outsiders will view it. Ultimately, JDT talks a good game but no-one knows how this season will play out - it could be a total disaster. And if it is, just like the Allardyce sacking, and just like the Bowyer sacking, those who were ready for a change could find themselves scrabbling for excuses as to why they were correct. FWIW, I wanted a change, but I was and still am VERY aware that any decision like this comes with enormous caveats and potential pitfalls. Time will tell.

If I understand TransferMarkts stats correctly, those 30-odd appearances for Rotherham accumulated to 675 minutes on the pitch. Averages out at 20mins a game for a team that weren't free scoring anyway. For Pompey he scored 1 goal every 186 mins on the pitch, averaging 60mins per game across his 40 appearances. Pompey are also desperate to get him back: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/update-latest-on-chances-of-return-for-george-hirst-and-what-leicester-citys-ex-sheffield-wednesday-and-rotherham-united-man-told-portsmouth-boss-3737014

That's precisely what the talk was about when you asked Mercer to name them. Then you tried to somehow argue that because they were loan players they shouldn't be considered as first team regulars 🤨 Regarding your comment, "They would not be available for us this season, so they have no effect on this seasons starting eleven"... I'm struggling to see how the 3 out of contract players have any effect on our starting 11 this season too. Improving on them is a different argument altogether, and there will probably come a time for that. For now, let's all stick to facts. We're 5 first team players down since we last played a competitive match. If we want to be pedantic we could argue Markanday is practically a new addition.

It appears you're tending not to worry about things that HAVE happened as well... like 5 of our regular starters from last season leaving the club. Loans not being relevant as you tried to suggest before is a nonsense, as is telling us Rothwell and Nyambe would have been bit-part... that's just a baseless comment. I appreciate people are trying to remain positive and patient, but I think it's important we stick to the facts as well.

Correct. Talk's cheap. I think all fans have been impressed by JDTs public displays, but that's literally all they are - saying what he wants us to hear. I have heard little rumours that the players were very impressed with the Portugal trip, which is encouraging. Ultimately won't mean anything if we've played 5, lost 5 and had a shocking window by the end of August.

His wages are the stumbling block, never mind the fee. According to some sources, Liverpool gave him a six year deal worth 60K p/w 😂 https://www.spotrac.com/epl/liverpool-fc/ben-davies-71614/ If that's the case he's over our max wage outlay by about 300%.

Spot on: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-confirm-37-man-squad-thailand-and-singapore

This in my mind was the kind of figures I'd be expecting. So, hey, might be a load of tosh. As I say, I was flabbergasted.

I mean, to me it didn't sound right. It sounds ridiculously not-right. Person who told me said, guess what he wanted to increase to... I guessed 18k, thinking that was perhaps a bit low. 15K 😐😐 I don't suppose we'll ever truly know unless someone asks Waggott, Mowbray or Lenihan directly. And even then, I wouldn't expect SW to divulge, especially if it was indeed such a modest request!

I'm not ITK, nor do I claim to be - but I was told this morning that Lenihan was on 12k here. To sign a new deal he wanted an increase of 3k, up to 15 - that was refused. I was astonished, but don't have much reason to doubt the source. I'm sure plenty will quickly shoot me down here, happy to be proven wrong if anyone has the figures...

To be honest I'd be very happy with this budget, but what bits of information have allowed you to reach that figure? I've seen Broughton suggest a 'healthy budget' whatever that means, and the news that we missed out on Anel (grow up) with the inference that we bid £3m... although there is absolutely no evidence to back that up either. Genuinely asking, and hoping I've missed some snippet or news that has alluded to us having 6 - 8mill to spend.

With respect, I'm not sure you or anyone on here recommending signings is going to allay any/many fears. At this precise moment, the transfer window is a disaster, simple as that. 7 or 8 regular first team players gone, Ethan Walker brought in. The only thing that will change the creeping panic is proper action. Anything else is window dressing.

Haha, totally baseless comment. 2 of those players have gone to a more ambitious Championship team who will very likely finish higher than us this season and one is now playing in the Premier League. How can you possibly say we will sign players of similar ability or better. We COULD do, but it's going to be a hell of an uphill battle unless GB and JDT are very well supported financially. Actions speak louder than words. A month into Broughton's appointment we've had nothing more than positive soundbites. It can change and we all hope it does, but it won't help resorting to stubborn statements with no substance or evidence.

Deeply depressing.

What's the general demeanor across the Dingle message board(s) after this glut of signings? I imagine some positivity has swept the fan base? Okay, you're losing some big hitters (to be expected), but swift action in the market has considerably softened that blow? Also, any indication on number of season tickets sold thus far? Dare I ask 😪

I hadn't seen this post. "Attitude" seems an interesting choice of word. Do you mean as simple as a 'change of heart' or 'change of mind' whereby he would decide that the offer (no-one knows for sure if it's good, bad or otherwise) by Rovers was acceptable and he would therefore re-sign? Or was it a more deliberate use of the word "Attitude" to imply the offer from Rovers might no longer be there unless something changes.... whatever that may be?

Burnley now up to signing number 5 for the summer; Samuel Bastien from Standard Liege. Kompany getting their business done quickly. Yes, they're losing players, but they've identified their targets and got them in, quick sharp. Meanwhile, just before 3pm our Twitter team were eagerly counting down the minutes until our new kit was formally on sale in the club shop ☠️ Trying not to get impatient/worried at this point. Come on Rovers, time is ticking!

Maybe. Think I'm too sensitive nowadays 😂

13,000? We should be so lucky. It was all so avoidable as well, all they had to do was listen to the people who'd run the club brilliantly for many years. No wonder the fan base are apathetic... they're bloody lucky they aren't apoplectic and causing more of a stir! Many have simply voted with their feet and won't return now. As I said yesterday, short of tearing down Ewood and Brockhall, this ownership have essentially taken us back 35 years.

"A place where we all belong" "Where your background doesn't matter" Which football club does that not apply to? I can see the angle they're going for with our diverse community, but it's still Marketing guff and flies in the face of the continued disconnect many of the fans feel since the Rao's bought the club.

Who wrote the script?!? "Other fans won't know what it's like to have that connection, that real connection with your club".... What a load of bollocks, and actually a bit of a slap in the face to the fanbase, many of whom feel less connected to the club than ever. This is just empty platitudes... Marketing guff written by someone who has zero understanding of the last 11 years. Define a connection with the club... To me its uniting all stakeholders in a continued vision, communicating as strongly as possible, engaging with the fanbase and community, taking pride in the club and its assets, doing things properly. More fiddling while Rome burns. Some connection the club have with its fanbase. We've sold less season tickets than all of our local rivals... Stanley aside I dare to presume. The kits horrid as well.

How many times have Rovers fans said this in the last 11 years? We're the famous Blackburn Rovers, we're a miles bigger club than 'X'. Blatantly untrue, frankly. A city club with an average attendance of 27,000 last season, the highest in the Championship..... our average was 14,000. What other measure of club size are there? Financial - Two years in the prem and support from parachute means they're superior.... not to mention the woeful mismanagement of our finances through the years. Infrastructure - Probably our strongest suit (Thanks, Jack). The stadium is slowly rusting away.... the training centre is top class... Sheff Utd are hoping to have their own cat 1 before long anyway.... History - bit of a nonsense argument, because no-one cares apart from the club's own fans. No-one wants to be the next West Ham, embarrassingly regaling rival fans of the great Bobby Moore and co that won the world cup. No-one gives a shit, just like no-one outside of our fanbase really gives a shit that we won the league in 1995. Anything I've missed? From that centre halves point of view the only thing that matters is how much money he's getting paid and then I suppose likelihood of success, prioritised in that order... unlikely we're going to match Sheff Utd on either of those fronts this season. Short of burning down EP and the STC, the Rao's have more or less managed to obliterate Jack's legacy, never mind 'absolutely respect it' as they promised, along with bold claims of making Rovers a 'truly global brand'. When they bought the club it was unimageable that we'd be considered equals with Preston, Blackpool, Burnley and others.... Well, here we are. Short of making us a truly global brand, they have essentially taken us backwards 35 years.... difference being, at least in those days we had people running the club who genuinely cared about it.

No one is asking him to. He said he'd share the email with Damo when he received a response.... He hasn't done that. I'm quite sure the email didn't simply say "Meet at EP, 08.00 hours, 6.7.2022" There must have been some content, some acknowledgement of his questions.... He's being cagey, that's all.

That's not the reply, that's the eventual outcome.... Have you perhaps been asked not to post the reply on here?

So what was the reply? You promised you'd put it in here. Looking forward to seeing it. Hope it sheds some more light on the topic!