Good news. We needed that whole embarrassing debacle closed so we can move on. Hopefully not just to the next embarrassing debacle.... Things do feel so much more positive this morning.

One of the (few) good ones.

Good statement. Long overdue, but appreciated. Where is this going to be published?

Ouch. I'd love to say "hang on in there" or "there will come a day when they are gone and we are still here". But I don't really believe that anymore. I kind of just want it all to go up in flames now. Our club is dead.

Is this some kind of irony?!?

I know what you are saying. But I don't think this is a case of someone "forcing a move". He has a release clause, he is unhappy with the lack of investment and security being provided by his employer, he has asked them to give him that, they have said no. I don't see he has any choice, or any real decision to make. On a basic level, the club agreed his release clause. So it is tough shit. They should have worked harder to keep him happy by offering some genuine hope - I suspect he would have stayed a lot longer if they had. But they never will. This is ALL on Venkys.

I suggest the nature of the statement and the repeated total lack of respect combined with sheer lies should help you with this. I don't blame him for a second for getting out while he can.

That statement has made me more furious at Venkys and Waggot than I've ever been. I really don't think I want to put myself through more of this abuse. I need to get out of it.

Really good post. Assuming all of that is spot on, though, what is their strategy here (ha!) and/or why not just sell/relinquish a loss-making arm that they seem to have no interest in, beyond staving off admin/liquidation?

🤣 brilliant! If football clubs were people!

I get that. Genune anecdote, though: I currently work for a "high/over performing" organisation. My career might continue to flourish just by being part of it. But my senior officers don't particularly respect or appreciate my views, nor my requests for the resource my team needs to continue to grow and meet the challenges on the horizon. I feel down about this and frustrated. I am intending applying for a similar job at an organisation considered to be "underperforming" but which is keen to improve and to invest in what will enable that. If offered, I will probably move on, quite happily. The question, in both scenarios, is what is the genuine degree of ambition at the alternative employer and will the employee feel happier going into work each day. But what is certain is that my current organisation is a wonderful place compared to what it must be like working for Venkys, Waggot, Pasha and Gestede. There are more important things than league position or your organisation's current "level" when deciding on a such a big life change. I wouldn't blame Eustace in the slightest.

They might. But I'm not sure those desperate to get any job will often be decent. Look at those who might be in that position right now. I'd genuinely like a couple of decent realistic names to hold onto for if, as seems likely, we have no manager tomorrow.

Fair enough. But the situation at the club now is worse than before. And I doubt plenty of decent managers will be lining up to be part of the circus.

I'm not so sure about the "decent" bit. Who do you have in mind?

Parade of tossers at the club coming out with "venkys never refuse to sign a cheque but what do fans want - a good manager or the electric bill paid for the rest of the season? Get real." Our club is finished until Venkys go.

Whilst everything is for sale at the right price, I wonder if that might not extend to the willingness of a homeowner to consider a sale, or even survey, of their house when they know it contains skeletons which they hid within it? Just a musing.

I'm on duty with three children at home this weekend. I've been back and forth over the last few days about whether to bring them all up for this game. The kick-off time means, realistically, we need to drive up through Saturday afternoon and pay for hotel rooms, dinner, etc. I think I'd still do it, but looking at the seat availability, it seems like not many fancy it at all, which is totally understandable. So, why go to such effort and expense when there will be little atmosphere, no feel good factor about the club, a stupid kick off time for a game that we can watch at home and ticket and food money spent that will go into the Venkys Malevolent Utility Bill Fund? So, amongst many others it seems, that'll be four fewer voices cheering on the team, and associated money spent at the ground, then. And my seven-year-old gradually losing his enthusiasm for what he thinks of as "his club". I know how he feels.

I'm more irritated by the substitutions he made (or didn't until far too late) and that he still publicly reflected on the game as one in which a draw would have been a fair result. We could have got a draw, we might have got a draw. We didn't really deserve one and QPR would have been very disappointed not to have won the game as they dominated for large stretches. I don't buy into any form of "we were unlucky not to draw" narrative. We got what we deserved. Having said all that, Eustace is in the position he is, regarding team selection and substitution options, due to the ownership and the club's transfer strategy (or lack of). Venkys are the perpetrators of our situation, rather than our manager, or the players, whatever their shortcomings.

I feel that, too. Resignation combined with knowing I'll never be able to stop following Rovers, but the time for giving them any of my money and time is over. I hope that will return, and that the current actions around contracts and loans, etc, points to an impending sale of the club to someone with very different levels of interest and ambition. But I suspect it is far more likely it is just part of a Venkys plan to hammer down the running costs of their convenient but loss-making off-shoot to the very minimum possible. Not making the Championship playoffs may well be the least of our worries in the years ahead.

As with so many Rovers games, this was a horrible watch. The kind of game that does make me wonder about Eustace's tactics, substitutions and getting the team in the right frame of mind to go out and attack anyone. That was not a team showing any urgency, intensity or creativity. Why the hell Kargbo had to wait so long to come on when he showed more in 5 mins than Hedges has in months, I don't know. That's on the manager. We got what we deserved in that match. Horrible and demoralising on many levels.

Dreadful substitutions. Dreadful goalkeeper. Shit runs right through this club

Well done to him - great penalty

I so want to like and defend Dolan. I appreciate his effort levels. But several years into his Rovers career (and probably the final few months of it), he is only consistent in his ability to repeatedly lose posession in the most elaborate way imaginable.

It is amazing we are only 1 down. That was a terrible performance. There is literally no point to an attack including Dolan and Hedges. Lots of running to achieve absolutely nothing at all. Our only threat from out wide comes from our full backs. It's like playing with 9 men and 2 excitable dogs.

I agree with you. But Venkys have NEVER come out and explained their plan or strategy and there is no way at all that a full and open statement will be issued by the club about these things. Any statement will be as empty and meaningless as those that have come before. Sadly, as a club, we are drifting through a process of dismantlement, with the levels of relative success we are currently 'enjoying' being down to a very good manager and a group of limited, but hardworking, players. The only way this changes is by somehow getting promoted or by Venkys selling. I don't think either is imminent.