https://www.roverstrust.com/news/newsletter---december-2024 Notes of our MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) Meeting held 12th December 2024: The meeting was again conducted in an open constructive fashion. Positive two way engagement took place. These are the agreed notes from our meeting with the Club.   Club Finances: WATR asked about the discrepancy in the statements made by the Club and those contained within the VLL Annual Accounts regarding the Club being a going concern. SW confirmed the Club statement within the BRFC 23/24 statutory accounts would reflect the current situation on the going concern notes and that due to a timing issue the VLL accounts had been worded without the adjustment that had taken place to allow the remittance of funds to the club. He confirmed he would be signing off the Club accounts by the end of December and that the Owners are able to make payments to the Club (currently with a bond / guarantee) having acquired a No Objection Certificate from the Indian Authorities. The Club would be requesting further funding for the second part of the 2024/2025 period to assist with covering statutory payments, operational costs and to allow activity in the January transfer window. SW stated the Club was currently in a good position on the pitch and was financially stable. It was generally felt the Club had opportunities to build upon its current first team form and league position to stay in play-off contention and that it would be looking to strengthen the first team squad in key positions during the forthcoming winter transfer window in January. The Club were also asked about the Senior Training Centre (STC) and its ownership. SW confirmed all loans had been paid off with funds provided by the Owners; he also confirmed the Club pay rent to the Owners relating to the transfer of the STC to VLL 2 but the aim was to bring the STC back into club ownership as soon as possible and at an appropriate future juncture. WATR welcomed the intentions regarding STC ownership and said this would be warmly welcomed by the vast majority of supporters. Safe Standing: WATR stated their support for Safe Standing at Ewood Park. The Club told us they were in discussion with the SGSA, Safety Advisory Group and various external parties in regard to the plan and costs for this exercise. Rovers had sought information from other clubs and recognised that safety rails could be fitted as a more cost-effective alternative to tip-up seating/barrier units. The Club were costing options, but this would have to be considered alongside other ground repairs and improvements. 150th Anniversary: The 2nd meeting of the 150th Planning Committee had taken place the previous day. This meeting included two representatives of the WATR Board alongside senior BwD Council representation, the 100 Club and the Community Trust. A Club lottery bid had been submitted and the Club now await the Heritage Lottery Fund coming back to them in the next two to three months. A wide range of ideas had been discussed including gable end murals on several buildings across town as well as a music festival, blue plaques, an anniversary book and a celebratory home fixture as close to 5th November 2025 as possible. WATR welcomed the collaborative approach taken by the Club and offered to sponsor a gable end mural featuring Rovers supporters of all backgrounds and ages. WATR also reiterated that the 150th Anniversary year would be a good opportunity for the Owners to attend one or more games. Season Tickets 2025/26: The Club welcomed the WATR document although they were unhappy it had been sent to the local media without being pre advised. The Chair of WATR recognised the concerns raised and stated we would give the Club sufficient notice with any future media engagement. The WATR document focussed largely on the marketing of ST’s and the need to look outside of the Club’s existing database and to engage and market those outside of the immediate BwD area. A lengthy discussion took place on pricing. It was noted that although the early bird pricing for adult tickets has varied between £319 and £399 over the past six seasons, the volume of adult season ticket purchases has remained largely unchanged. The number of adult ST sales in the 2018/19 season when the early bird price was £319 was pretty similar to adult season ticket sales this season. The Supporters Trust highlighted that other local clubs offered lower-priced season tickets. In response, the Club emphasised that while the lead adult early bird price might be lower, Preston North End's (PNE) U23 season ticket prices were twice as high, and overall, PNE’s average season ticket cost was £44 more expensive across all age groups. The Club also pointed out that, on average, only Oxford, Hull, and QPR had cheaper season ticket prices, while Cardiff and Stoke's prices were similar. With adult season ticket sales accounting for less than 45% of total sales, and 55% consisting of concessions, it is important to take both age groups and concession pricing into account when evaluating the overall season ticket pricing structure. There was recognition that financial targets were set by the Owners / Board and these would not reduce in the future; WATR stressed the need for more innovative approaches and bundling with other Club offers. The Club stated they would seriously consider our proposals and welcomed further discussions. WATR stressed the need for better fan engagement and proactive communications on financial matters. Supporter Engagement: The Club were open and receptive to the proposal of several roadshow meetings with supporter groups from February / March onwards. WATR volunteered toplay a key role in assisting in arranging these meetings alongside the Club. The medium-term aim is to set up a Fan Advisory Board with the longer-term aim of convening a Shadow Board with appropriate supporter representation. Further discussion took place on the Football Governance Bill with the second reading in the House of Lords throwing up various amendments that could delay the Bill becoming Law. Both the Club and WATR were of the view that an Independent Football Regulator would be a real positive step forward for improved football governance along with Fan Advisory Boards / Shadow Boards eventually being established. It was clear that Rovers are continuing to advance their preparation and readiness for changes to the future framework of football. WATR 2025/26 Season Ticket Proposals The full WATR document can be found at: https://www.roverstrust.com/news/season-tickets-2025-26-proposals Our proposals focus on: value; atmosphere; timing of sales; marketing outside of BwD and thinking outside the box. We summarise our recommendations as follows: Earlier sales targeted for the final home game of the season Free school tickets for the final home game of the season to coincide with the ST launch Consistent, fair pricing and removal of deadlines A reduced game ST for those living over 25 miles from Ewood Bundling of ST’s with added options The Riverside prices should be reduced and ‘entry level’ Season Tickets offered in the uncovered seats A meaningful attempt to target areas outside of BwD Sales leaflets should be produced and delivered to new housing estates in the locality of Ewood Park The match day atmosphere should be addressed Safe standing should be funded and introduced as soon as possible. A Happy Christmas and New Year!! We Are The Rovers Supporters Trust wish all members and Rovers supporters a very happy blue and white Christmas and New Year. Let us hope 2025 is successful. If you have any feedback please email: [email protected]

The meeting took place with the full knowledge of our Board. It took place on Friday and was arranged at our request and was at short notice. We had always planned to put out a communication on Monday, Glen was aware of a forthcoming communication. That communication also has to be approved by our Board.

Gav, your £20 and a bottle of fizz await 😉

Ian, I believe comparing brfcs with WATR is a bit like comparing apples with pears. WATR is a Community Benefit Society and has to act within legislation; it is made up of paying members and is managed by an elected board of Directors. Brfcs is a private company with owners and individual messageboard posters of who some (I can only identify 4 but it must be more) are members of WATR. Whete this “WATR are more representative” comes from I don’t know. Our membership has never been as high as we would wish but we are changing that as explained yesterday with our new website, better communication etc. WATR does not have a messageboard nor does not seek to compete with brfcs. Both have different roles but are able to compliment each other on occasions.

I said it in jest; my warped sense of humour. We don’t get biscuits by the way however we may raise it as a formal complaint at our next MoU meeting. Either that or I will take my own Hobnobs and charge the Club for scoffing them. £10 sounds about right 😉

First para: I explained the context. There are a wide variety of views. Second para: No, we do not have a campaign ready.

Chocolate Hobnobs - I guess most of you know that already

True

Kenny. WATR would not dream of making such personal comments about individual owners of this message board. We have an elected Board and they hold a wide cross section of opinion. My role is to try and get the Board to a consensus on a way forward, it can be challenging given the different views.

WATR will be taking stock of our position after the 20th August court case and our MoU meeting at the end of August. Members already have the opportunity to feed back; with most Newsletters (we aim for at least 10 per year) we ask for feedback and we have recently done so with our Twitter feed (eg our last Newsletter. Members know how to contact us and indeed many do; being totally honest the feedback is very much in support of engagement. I am an occasional visitor on here however various WATR Board members do read posts and we are aware of opinion. However you must realise the views of individual posters on here are not the only source of feedback. For us to change our position feedback must be member led. 12 months ago WATR had a poor website and no way of reminding members when subs were due; our membership system was creaky to say the least. The website has been updated. Our communications (2 way) have improved and our membership system is being brought up to date. Our membership has also increased circa 30% in the last few months and we get positive feedback. I am not publishing the Twitter screen shots below for effect but they do illustrate that individual posters on brfcs are not the sole arbiters of opinion on our Club. (Before anyone has a go they are not my views - indeed I have kept my personal views out of this post). Back to my initial paragraph. Our Board will meet to discuss the 20th and subsequent MoU meeting very soon after those events. The Board, not me, will decide on our response. Given the watershed moments upon us it could well be the case we decide to consult with members on our stance towards the owners.

There is a FF meeting next Tuesday evening. There is also a meeting of the new WATR Board that night as well. For information WATR are in discussion with the Club about the date of our next MoU meeting. What is pleasing is that we now have a full compliment of elected Board members (14 plus a Secretary); the roles and responsibilities of each Board member have been drawn up and will be agreed or otherwise nest Tuesday, these will then be shared in the next membership newsletter. I am not being controversial here but in answer to the comment from IraC that we should take ideas from this messageboard is not quite how we operate, however we do of course pick up a number of issues from here. We are a membership based organisation and ultimately they decide albeit the Board are elected to deal with the day to day tasks. We do get a lot of direct member feedback and I respond to this on a regular basis; it would be true to say that the feedback is almost universally supportive of engagement with the Club. Our approach is that of the ‘critical friend’. For information (not aimed at Josh) non of the Board members are paid, we don’t take out expenses and we often finish up subsidising activities. We are all committed to Rovers and ensuring the Club survives when ownership and senior management changes as it ultimately will; the one consistent will be the Trust, as WATR, will be around when change happens. It takes up a lot of our time but we do it because we all love Blackburn Rovers. I am not going to directly answer a comment on another thread suggesting we are ‘super fans’ apart to say non of us are so called ‘super fans’ (I definitely am not) but what we are is committed fans who are prepared to make a difference; we are doers, not talkers. Being doers brings criticism and we will never please each and every supporter, nor do we aim to do so.

I didn’t. I immediately raised it with the Club.

Both Duncan and I believe the supporter consultation meetings should return. We have a WATR Board meeting next week with the new Board of 14 (plus Secretary) and will reach a formal WATR view and therefore put this to the Club.

The ‘news’ that Rovers will charge ST holders to watch the u21’s is not true. The policy that ST holders enter free of charge will continue.

Tony. This is news to WATR. Nothing discussed, nothing agreed.