Miller11

Last night was the worst possible advert for English football. A sorry tale of 2 clubs decimated by horrendous owners played out on the pitch, and it was objectively one of the worst games of professional football you’ll ever see. We often hear about a “lack of quality”, but last night the majority of players on the pitch showed that they are a fair way off Championship standard. It was more a lack of competence. I’m glad we had one or two more competent players than them and took all 3 points, but if that’s our level of performance for the rest of the season they are the last we are getting. Wednesday might be on minus a hundred points and be without a goal in months, but I’d gladly swap positions with them. There’s light at the end of the tunnel for them, while we are stuck with Venky’s. Up until now matches were an escape from the farcical running of the club, you could try and set that aside for an hour and a half and “get behind the lads ffs”. I think it’s changed now, last night the football felt fairly incidental to the rest of the circus going on around us. The subdued atmosphere (although definitely more home fans on than against Watford) was odd. I’m sure there will be another Suhail inflicted crisis in a day or two anyway.

Chris Coleman. Best friend of Steve Kean. Used to come and visit him when he was Rovers manager and go out on the piss together. The man who recommended Kean to Allardyce. If this happens they aren’t even trying to hide the corruption any more.

Unless he’s had a drastic change of heart, Johnson would run a mile from the job on a full time basis. Apparently he takes quite a lot of persuading to do it for the one game. Happy coaching, doesn’t want to be a manager.

Anyone still laughing at Eustace, waving snakes, or questioning his decision? Derby will certainly make playoffs and probably go up.

Before Waggott got here all our managers came from HSH (Lambert, Coyle, Mowbray). Suhail definitely appears to be friendly with one or more of their directors. They absolutely had their claws in at Rovers and their noses in the trough until Waggott cut them off. See Craig Honeyman’s bitter Twitter account for the fallout. I’ve just found out that Gregory Vignal is a client of theirs. Looks like they are back. HSH is basically the remnants of SEM Kentaro by the way. I’d put my money on one of the following: Lee Grant Sami Hyppia Anthony Hudson Pep Lijnders David Artell Neil Lennon Lee Grant Darren Potter Mark Robins Uwe Hunemeir Lee Carsley Mike Garrity George Boateng Richie Barker Stuart Taylor Alex Tettey

Unfortunately I think there is more chance of Pasha picking up the phone to Steve Kean than Allardyce or Mowbray. It’ll be someone completely obscure, very cheap, probably French, and definitely shit.

Alan Wright told a great story on a podcast I listened to last year. Rovers and Wimbledon players were lined up in the tunnel waiting to go out when our new signing, Andy Morrison, walked past to take his place on the bench. Wimbledon players were looking at him in a state of shock and awe, and Fashanu (who was as well known for his Saturday night TV presenting duties as his football at the time) exclaimed “Who the fuck is that?!” Apparently Jason Wilcox replied ”That, Fash, is our very own Gladiator!”

Rovers 0-1 Wednesday Cadamarteri with the goal.

They absolutely are. Their egos and levels of stubbornness are as big as their levels of incompetence.

If anyone wants to get ahead of the curve and be the first to get next seasons kits, albeit unbadged, fill your boots. They are down to £7.50 on the Umbro site.

The first ever Spzl on pitch kit was part of the offer too. It was being saved specifically for Rovers. Probably now go to Man Utd, Liverpool or Real Madrid. At least we’ll have Castore’s second brand.

Macron’s deal is up at the end of this season. As of April 2025 Rovers were allowed to talk to other suppliers, but not before. As part of the deal Macron also have matching bid rights (they have to be told what any new offer is and be given the opportunity to match it). That’s the facts, but just MAYBE the following happened… MAYBEWaggott had been talking to adidas, largely due to Gary Aspden. MAYBE It was off the record but it got very clear they were very keen around October 2024. MAYBE Suhail got wind of Waggott talking to adidas and tried to tell him that Yasir would be doing the kit deal and not him. MAYBE Waggott told him no, as he had the relationship with Gary and subsequently with adidas. MAYBE As a result Suhail got in a strop and went off talking to Castore, and told Waggott to forget about adidas and that we’d be going with Castore “to keep the Issa brothers onside”. MAYBE Suhail then went to Macron to tell them he was negotiating a really good deal with Castore, so they would need to put in a much improved deal. And MAYBE Macron went mad as this broke the exclusivity agreement and MAYBE threatened legal action. MAYBE Waggott was planning on flying to Italy to smooth things over with Macron but eventually did it on the phone, but MAYBE they chilled out a bit. MAYBE Waggott explained the local connection to adidas and that they would be offering loads of things macron couldn’t match (Spezial kit, boot deal, exhibition at Ewood, new club shop, Spezial trainers). MAYBE Macron accepted that couldn’t be matched. In April they opened up to tender. MAYBE Macron, adidas and Castore put in. MAYBE Macron and Castore both offered an upfront payment - basically a guarantee of 400k, rather than an extra payment. MAYBE Suhail went to adidas and asked them to match it, MAYBE they said they don’t offer guarantees to anyone, not even Man Utd or Real Madrid - they just sell lots of kits. MAYBE Suhail then went back and told Macron they were going with Castore - MAYBE Macron said they wanted to keep Rovers and offered to match Castore. MAYBE Suhail’s response was “No you should’ve offered us more in the first place. We are going with Castore.” MAYBE Adidas were not getting good vibes since Waggott left, but MAYBE Suhail then reapproached adidas asking for a half million upfront payment to “buy out macron” - effectively pay them off cos they will sue. MAYBE Adidas reiterated their stance of no upfront payments - MAYBE Suhail said “Well Castore are willing to pay the legal fees”. So MAYBE Macron are seeking compensation for 2 separate breeches of contract. Castore have bought out Umbro and need clubs for their second brand. MAYBE we’ve agreed to being Umbro with off the peg kits slightly Roverized.

Called it a while ago, but it’s official (despite denials in the fans forum from Suhail and his lapdog)

Wasn’t a regular fixture, or here for very long, but Andy Morrison probably tops the list.