EFL statement - Transfer fee restriction

[Spilsby Red]

I have supported the board throughout, as have many on here. Some of us are voicing our concerns with recent issues. Just because we are raising these concerns doesn’t mean we are slating the board.
It will come to a point soon that TB will leave the club. I am so grateful for what he (and Watson) have done for our club. And long may it continue.

[silent majority]

The club's "Head of Finance" is now Matt Evans, according to the official site...

https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/club/contacts/

And also reports to Gavin now rather than DB.

[Chris Black come back]

In what kind of corporate structure does a CFO report directly to a non-executive chairman?!

[In the box]

In what kind of corporate structure does a CFO report directly to a non-executive chairman?!

Looks like another job is being prepared for James Coppinger … 

[Branton Red]

This new regulation could potentially have restricted Rovers ability to pay fees for players over 3 transfer windows. And Rovers do pay fees on occasion (e.g. Broadbent).

As it is falling foul of the regulation has restricted the clubs ability to pay fees this January. At a time when we really needed to sign some quality given our league position and after the owner has given indications that he wants to invest more in the squad.

This mistake could quite easily cost the club and the city it's football league status.

Any halfway competent CEO would be keeping track of changes in regulation affecting their industry especially where falling in breach of them would have serious consequences.

However Rovers CEO was "unaware" of what was happening (reply 42). Never mind ensuring controls were put in place to ensure the club didn't fall foul of the regulation, and then monitoring that these were carried out.

He then publishes to the fans the nonsensical line "it did not impact the transfer business undertaken by the club in January".

And feeds the line that the issue is not significant and anyway the fault lies with an employee more junior than himself.

The incompetence is bad enough but the blatant arse covering makes it a whole lot worse.

The bloke needs sacking pronto.

[Pancho Regan]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Just a small point. TB doesn't live locally unless you consider Harrogate be local. 

Do you have any other valuable contributions to make to this debate?

[dickos1]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ll ignore your first six paragraphs as they’re typically just you playing ‘clever dick’ (smart ar*e was my first option)…yet again.

When you say ‘the hierarchy’ I assume you’re referring specifically to our Chairman Terry Bramall?

I won’t purloin Pancho Regan’s excellent posts by quoting from them except to say that what he has to say regarding Terry & Gavin I personally totally endorse…end of.

A mistake has been made in making payments to Brighton for a player, in hindsight, wasn’t worth the bother. So you & a few others (the usual culprits in the main), have decided to use this as the ‘cudgel to beat the club with (wholesale)’ you & these others have decided this is ‘the final straw’

So, we have a man in his eighties who has basically sacked his Chairman & as he himself stated at the MTO’s event, has taken ‘full control’ of the club. He has the reins. He stated at the MTO that he didn’t feel this was the right time to bring others into the club to ‘share’ the financial burdens because he believes that would simply ‘muddy the waters’ in respect of who then is responsible for the team budget, catering, the up keep of the stadium (which is currently £350,000 per annum before a ball has been kicked) he explained this stance in answer to a question asked of him that evening.

So, the ‘people at the top’, the hierarchy, which in essence boils down to the clubs owner given all decisions go through him, so Terry Bramall, (or the hierarchy as you call him, if not him then to whom are you referring?), this Doncaster man who has made his fortune in the area & lives in the area & who feels “Because of these factors I want to give something back to the people of Doncaster through their football club” has, to quote you “..gone past their (his) sell by date…run out of ideas and become stale…”.

Tell me this, if he were to stand up tomorrow after the Sutton game whatever the result (a game I personally think we will win for what it’s worth) & say he is stepping away from the club with immediate effect because he feels he has ‘outgrown his usefulness & realises the club needs fresh blood’ would that make you (& a few other like minded souls who have now apparently ‘had enough’), but you in particular because it’s your post I just happen to have picked up on, happy?

AND if that scenario were to happen or worse still some illness forced his decision, who do you foresee would then take up the reins & move the club forward?

I’m intrigued, in fact the suspense is killing me.

Just a small point. TB doesn't live locally unless you consider Harrogate be local. 

It might be small but it’s incorrect!
Linton just outside Wetherby is where he lives

[wilts rover]

This new regulation could potentially have restricted Rovers ability to pay fees for players over 3 transfer windows. And Rovers do pay fees on occasion (e.g. Broadbent).

As it is falling foul of the regulation has restricted the clubs ability to pay fees this January. At a time when we really needed to sign some quality given our league position and after the owner has given indications that he wants to invest more in the squad.

This mistake could quite easily cost the club and the city it's football league status.

Any halfway competent CEO would be keeping track of changes in regulation affecting their industry especially where falling in breach of them would have serious consequences.

However Rovers CEO was "unaware" of what was happening (reply 42). Never mind ensuring controls were put in place to ensure the club didn't fall foul of the regulation, and then monitoring that these were carried out.

He then publishes to the fans the nonsensical line "it did not impact the transfer business undertaken by the club in January".

And feeds the line that the issue is not significant and anyway the fault lies with an employee more junior than himself.

The incompetence is bad enough but the blatant arse covering makes it a whole lot worse.

The bloke needs sacking pronto.

Do we need any other employees then if the CEO will be doing the work? Should he also be choosing transfer targets, deciding tactics, choosing the team? Why do we need a manager/DOF? What use is a CEO if he can't do everything?

[Pancho Regan]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

[Redroy]

f**king love how Gaz riles up the boomers on here.

[Chris Black come back]

We are 90th out of the 92. Criticism is due. We are shite and shite because of decisions we have made as a club.

[Pancho Regan]

f**king love how Gaz riles up the boomers on here.

Brilliant contribution!

[Colin C No.3]

f**king love how Gaz riles up the boomers on here.

That’s post number 262 from you since you first registered on the site in 2013.

You’ll understand if I don’t go searching through your ‘back catalogue’…..then again you probably wouldn’t. ‘Gaz’ might have a quick gander mind given your “f**king love” of his contributions.

[GazLaz]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

I never said those opinions were my opinions. They were examples of fairly common gripes made by our fanbase within the last week.

I was emphasising that these things aren’t really the issue, it’s bigger than that, and the responsibility actually lays elsewhere.

I’m absolutely not desperate to criticise the club, I just want to see progression, change and positive action. I know what is possible and I want to see us moving in the right direction. I know it’s not a black and white thing and there is not going to be an overnight fix but I’m absolutely desperate to see some green shoots of recovery and less basic mistakes being made. I want to see a bit more thought going into running the club and a bit more joined up thinking. We’ve been miles off it recently. Look around us. Much smaller clubs with less resources putting us to shame by having good processes in place, formulating a solid plan and sticking to it, which can bring success.

The absolute minimum we should hope for is that the club punches its weight, in a best case scenario (as we have done in the last 20 years at points) punch above our weight. We are miles away from either at the minute.

Regarding your last point, bitterness?? Absolutely not. I’m just a fan with an opinion. There’s far more than one way to skin a cat in this game, I know that. I just want us to show some sort of consistent thought process in regards to how to move the club forwards. I want my three lads to have not just a football league club to support but a strong, successful one that punches their weight and more.

[Jonathan]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

I never said those opinions were my opinions. They were examples of fairly common gripes made by our fanbase within the last week.

I was emphasising that these things aren’t really the issue, it’s bigger than that, and the responsibility actually lays elsewhere.

I’m absolutely not desperate to criticise the club, I just want to see progression, change and positive action. I know what is possible and I want to see us moving in the right direction. I know it’s not a black and white thing and there is not going to be an overnight fix but I’m absolutely desperate to see some green shoots of recovery and less basic mistakes being made. I want to see a bit more thought going into running the club and a bit more joined up thinking. We’ve been miles off it recently. Look around us. Much smaller clubs with less resources putting us to shame by having good processes in place, formulating a solid plan and sticking to it, which can bring success.

The absolute minimum we should hope for is that the club punches its weight, in a best case scenario (as we have done in the last 20 years at points) punch above our weight. We are miles away from either at the minute.

Regarding your last point, bitterness?? Absolutely not. I’m just a fan with an opinion. There’s far more than one way to skin a cat in this game, I know that. I just want us to show some sort of consistent thought process in regards to how to move the club forwards. I want my three lads to have not just a football league club to support but a strong, successful one that punches their weight and more.

I feel like that’s a very reasonable response to the points raised and it would be nice if a line could be drawn under the feuding.

For what it’s worth I’ll always back the owners for what they’ve done for us, and I don’t want a change in ownership. But I think it’s fair comment that there’s a change in strategic direction needed. The press around the appointment of a Head of Football Operations explained that but we quickly shelved it arguably before putting the right structure around it. So I can see why people feel like we’re drifting and want change. I want change but that doesn’t mean a change in ownership, just approach. As others have reasonably pointed out, we’ve invested some decent money so you have to look at the decision making when we continue to fall in spite of that.   

[pib]

Sadly I’m starting to think that a change in approach would only come with a change of ownership. How many chances have we had to get it right now? And we’re still falling. I would absolutely love to be proven wrong though.

[Redroy]

It's hard IMO. Terry has all the cash a club like us would need, purportedly cares about its place in the town (thats not a dig, I dont know the fella but it is what people say), etc. So seemingly would just need to put the right people and structure in place.

But then we have made small forward steps and then immediately big backward steps on the structure front, the administration of the club has been tinpot for several years, big disinvestment in the playing budget and some misinfo put out there about that.

Now he's binned off Blunt and seemingly wants to take some corrective action after all of the shit of the last few years. But we know he's not an expert on the football side of things so where's the leadership there? And rightly he will say I need some time to put those things in place now I've got rid of the chairman. We don't really have time do we, hovering over the trapdoor to the conference.

It's all very confused. Much like my feelings towards the current question r.e. ownership/leadership of the club.

[wilts rover]

It's hard IMO. Terry has all the cash a club like us would need, purportedly cares about its place in the town (thats not a dig, I dont know the fella but it is what people say), etc. So seemingly would just need to put the right people and structure in place.

But then we have made small forward steps and then immediately big backward steps on the structure front, the administration of the club has been tinpot for several years, big disinvestment in the playing budget and some misinfo put out there about that.

Now he's binned off Blunt and seemingly wants to take some corrective action after all of the shit of the last few years. But we know he's not an expert on the football side of things so where's the leadership there? And rightly he will say I need some time to put those things in place now I've got rid of the chairman. We don't really have time do we, hovering over the trapdoor to the conference.

It's all very confused. Much like my feelings towards the current question r.e. ownership/leadership of the club.

Wrexham's owners are Hollywood film stars who probably didn't know where Wrexham was until they bought them. Yet they are being held up as a current role model. A lot of PL clubs are essentially owned by foreign investment funds with no previous connection to football whatsoever.

But if ownership is your problem...

[i_ateallthepies]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

I never said those opinions were my opinions. They were examples of fairly common gripes made by our fanbase within the last week.

I was emphasising that these things aren’t really the issue, it’s bigger than that, and the responsibility actually lays elsewhere.

I’m absolutely not desperate to criticise the club, I just want to see progression, change and positive action. I know what is possible and I want to see us moving in the right direction. I know it’s not a black and white thing and there is not going to be an overnight fix but I’m absolutely desperate to see some green shoots of recovery and less basic mistakes being made. I want to see a bit more thought going into running the club and a bit more joined up thinking. We’ve been miles off it recently. Look around us. Much smaller clubs with less resources putting us to shame by having good processes in place, formulating a solid plan and sticking to it, which can bring success.

The absolute minimum we should hope for is that the club punches its weight, in a best case scenario (as we have done in the last 20 years at points) punch above our weight. We are miles away from either at the minute.

Regarding your last point, bitterness?? Absolutely not. I’m just a fan with an opinion. There’s far more than one way to skin a cat in this game, I know that. I just want us to show some sort of consistent thought process in regards to how to move the club forwards. I want my three lads to have not just a football league club to support but a strong, successful one that punches their weight and more.

I feel like that’s a very reasonable response to the points raised and it would be nice if a line could be drawn under the feuding.

For what it’s worth I’ll always back the owners for what they’ve done for us, and I don’t want a change in ownership. But I think it’s fair comment that there’s a change in strategic direction needed. The press around the appointment of a Head of Football Operations explained that but we quickly shelved it arguably before putting the right structure around it. So I can see why people feel like we’re drifting and want change. I want change but that doesn’t mean a change in ownership, just approach. As others have reasonably pointed out, we’ve invested some decent money so you have to look at the decision making when we continue to fall in spite of that.   

I agree with all of that Jonathan with just one slight difference.  I don't see it as a feud, but baseless personal attacks by two individuals on one member for absolutely everything he posts.  I don't see Gazlaz returning their bile as would be the case if it were a feud, he explains logically and patiently why he holds his views and refuses to return the childish bile.

[DonnyOsmond]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

Ahh that explains why Bailey doesn't fit into a McCann midfield!

[Redroy]

It's hard IMO. Terry has all the cash a club like us would need, purportedly cares about its place in the town (thats not a dig, I dont know the fella but it is what people say), etc. So seemingly would just need to put the right people and structure in place.

But then we have made small forward steps and then immediately big backward steps on the structure front, the administration of the club has been tinpot for several years, big disinvestment in the playing budget and some misinfo put out there about that.

Now he's binned off Blunt and seemingly wants to take some corrective action after all of the shit of the last few years. But we know he's not an expert on the football side of things so where's the leadership there? And rightly he will say I need some time to put those things in place now I've got rid of the chairman. We don't really have time do we, hovering over the trapdoor to the conference.

It's all very confused. Much like my feelings towards the current question r.e. ownership/leadership of the club.

Wrexham's owners are Hollywood film stars who probably didn't know where Wrexham was until they bought them. Yet they are being held up as a current role model. A lot of PL clubs are essentially owned by foreign investment funds with no previous connection to football whatsoever.

But if ownership is your problem...

Not by me they're not

[BillyStubbsTears]

Pancho, what gives you the confidence on those running the club? (I don't mean the coaching management team btw)

Because Terry Bramhall truly cares about the Club. So much so that he has recently taken what must have been a very difficult decision in removing his long-time colleague and business partner, David Blunt, from the position of Chairman of the Club in order to take over the reigns himself.

Terry has too much dignity and humanity to sack Blunt and slag him off, but clearly he was not happy with the way the Club was going and he acted decisively.

Terry has said that he looks back with pride at the time we were in the Championship and he wants those times to return. I believe him.

Gavin Baldwin is an excellent CEO and would be coveted by many other clubs much higher in the football pyramid. The work he has done behind the scenes to improve the financial stability of the Club and to safeguard its future is exemplary. He also cares passionately about the Rovers, I can assure you of that.

We have had an awful three years or so, and I’m hurting just as much as any other fan.
But Terry and Gavin feel the same pain and they are desperate to turn things around. Do you think it was easy to sack the previous Manager and bring in McCann? Was that the act of a Board who don’t care or who are incompetent?

It’s time to do what fans should do. Take a deep breath, roll up our sleeves and get behind the team and the Club in its hour of need.

That what I’m trying to do.
Others can deal with the current situation as they see fit.

Well said Pancho.

It was a relatively small mistake, made because of a change in how loan payments were to be invoiced and not picked up by the FD, the same one who sent an incorrect payment to HMRC which everybody seems to be beating the club up about as well.

I feel sorry for Richard the FD, he was a decent bloke but the job seemed to become too much for him. He's moved on now, away from football too I understand.

I doubt very much if we will ever have anything similar happening whilst TB is Chair, if anything he'll pay everything in advance!

Let’s blame Richard for issues with payments.

Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks.

Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings.

Let’s blame whoever for the issue with Goldman’s loan.

Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team.

Let’s blame the physio for so many injuries.

At what point do we start looking at the people at the top? Is it possible that the hierarchy (however well intentioned and capable) have just gone past their sell by date? It’s quite possible to run out of ideas and become stale, whatever industry you are in.

I’ve tried to calm down since last night.

But reading this contribution from you, GazLaz, just reinforces what I feel about the difference between those who support the club and those who seek to constantly find fault.

What is all this “Let’s blame…… “ stuff?
Is the list for dramatic effect?

How can you include “Let’s blame Jones for bad positioning from free kicks”? What on earth is your point?

And “Let’s blame Coppinger for a poor crop of signings” is a bit rich, considering you have done exactly that with regard to Adam Long, whilst conveniently forgetting that Copps was instrumental in bringing Owen Bailey to the club, arguably our best signing this season.

“Let’s blame Grant for producing a horrible football team” ……. I’m struggling to understand who you are criticising here.

My conclusion, GazLaz, is that you are determined to criticise the Club at every opportunity, on every issue.
Well, fill your boots if that makes you happy.
I think perhaps there is some bitterness on your part because the club has failed to avail itself of your expert advice.

I never said those opinions were my opinions. They were examples of fairly common gripes made by our fanbase within the last week.

I was emphasising that these things aren’t really the issue, it’s bigger than that, and the responsibility actually lays elsewhere.

I’m absolutely not desperate to criticise the club, I just want to see progression, change and positive action. I know what is possible and I want to see us moving in the right direction. I know it’s not a black and white thing and there is not going to be an overnight fix but I’m absolutely desperate to see some green shoots of recovery and less basic mistakes being made. I want to see a bit more thought going into running the club and a bit more joined up thinking. We’ve been miles off it recently. Look around us. Much smaller clubs with less resources putting us to shame by having good processes in place, formulating a solid plan and sticking to it, which can bring success.

The absolute minimum we should hope for is that the club punches its weight, in a best case scenario (as we have done in the last 20 years at points) punch above our weight. We are miles away from either at the minute.

Regarding your last point, bitterness?? Absolutely not. I’m just a fan with an opinion. There’s far more than one way to skin a cat in this game, I know that. I just want us to show some sort of consistent thought process in regards to how to move the club forwards. I want my three lads to have not just a football league club to support but a strong, successful one that punches their weight and more.

I feel like that’s a very reasonable response to the points raised and it would be nice if a line could be drawn under the feuding.

For what it’s worth I’ll always back the owners for what they’ve done for us, and I don’t want a change in ownership. But I think it’s fair comment that there’s a change in strategic direction needed. The press around the appointment of a Head of Football Operations explained that but we quickly shelved it arguably before putting the right structure around it. So I can see why people feel like we’re drifting and want change. I want change but that doesn’t mean a change in ownership, just approach. As others have reasonably pointed out, we’ve invested some decent money so you have to look at the decision making when we continue to fall in spite of that.   

I agree with all of that Jonathan with just one slight difference.  I don't see it as a feud, but baseless personal attacks by two individuals on one member for absolutely everything he posts.  I don't see Gazlaz returning their bile as would be the case if it were a feud, he explains logically and patiently why he holds his views and refuses to return the childish bile.

It's something I'm realising more and more as I get older. Holding forthright views based on evidence and logical analysis really seems to trigger some folk. Maybe social media needs two streams? One for rational discussion, where people can disagree respectfully and one for gut instinct where it's expected that abuse will fly.

[Chris Black come back]

I think social media might magnify this perhaps but you do live and learn that some people just cannot think beyond binary terms or comprehend nuance. I think social media allows them to platform this ignorance to a wider audience, but isn’t the causal factor. Offering an informed critique doesn’t mean you want Terry to sell up and the hedge fund guys to be ushered in again. If the mentally challenged were able to think beyond straight black / white terms, we would probably make much more progress.

[silent majority]

You have been duped sm as you came on tbis forum many times backing the boards claims that we had a top 6 or 8 budget when clearly it was no where near!

Here you are bpool, a post from me dated as far back as 2021 saying the budget was a holding budget;

https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=282188.msg1086296#msg1086296

[Pancho Regan]

Pancho,
Look where we are in the league.
We are going backwards year on year.
Look at a local rival in Scunthorpe and tell me that you don’t believe we are going the same way?
What makes you think that we are going to stay up?
I see absolutely nothing to suggest that we will get another win all season.

I think we will stay up because I have belief in our Manager to get enough out of this squad to keep us up.

We are not Scunthorpe and I can tell you that I don’t believe we are going the same way.

I’ll have a £50 bet with you that we will get another win this season.
Are you up for that?

Does that answer all your questions?

Good call from you knockers, not to take up my bet!