• NEXT GAME: Itswich Town (as my mate also says) F.C
    Friday 29th March 2024
    Kick off 17.30
    Ewood Park
    Championship

Steve Waggott - New CEO

Barmitzvah Boy

Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
I have heard positive things about him from Club staff, and these are not folk making comments they are told to make - I trust them.

Waggott has been focusing on supporting and leading the January transfer window before communicating to a wider audience. Sounds like a sensible, businesslike approach.

Some positive comments from the CEO in the latest Fans Forum minutes. I would rather give him a chance than knock him down. https://www.rovers.co.uk/siteassets/fans/fans-forum/ff-minutes-16-1-18.pdf

Also note 400 1/2 ST’s sold which is good.
 
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Vinjay

Senior Member
Senior. I'd also put all of his predecessors after John Williams in the same bracket.
Even Myers assuming you include him on that list?

I've commented on Williams elsewhere (not copy.pasting everything can't be bothered) but have posted the following both here and "there". Generally I'm going to try and have more "exclusive" posts (that does sound arrogant lol but I just like that word) rather than copy/pasting same thing on both boards.

Isn't Dafabet contract due to expire as shirt sponsor this summer? I suspect it won't be renewed such deals normally aren't once the initial contracted term expires. That's one of the first things that should be on the agenda for Waggott. Aren't Euro Garages involved in any level of sponsorship at Rovers? As far as I know they don't even have an advertising board. They have invested in the local community with the Frontier Park development, etc so they obviously have some level of affinity with the area. I've heard they are football fans and while I don't know who they support (hopefully not United!) shouldn't the club be courting them? They could reach out to numerous companies in the area inviting them to events so it does not come across as blatant grovelling, etc. The plan shouldn't be to wait for companies like WEC Group (hardly on the same scale as Euro Garages) to sponsor things like social media partnerships there has to be engagement. You can argue that L1/Championship isn't the right stage for a shirt sponsorship deal but like I've said they have invested in the local area.

EDIT-Been told by Alan Myers that he and Dave Biggar (who also spoke to them directly which I'm interpreting as meaning face to face) tried a number of times but no joy. Biggar was the one who negotiated the Dafabet deal (which is one of the better deals in recent years probably because Venkys or Shaw/Cheston were not involved) and was brought in by Myers. It was always going to be for a limited period as Biggar wanted to return to the US. I'm not sure if Waggott will have any more success and that's before knowing if he's even had the idea.

Nice people apparently but impression Myers had is they just aren't interested in football. I read one article somewhere that one (possibly both) of the brothers was "football mad" but that's not by any means certain. I couldn't find much else so it may have been exaggerated or inaccurate. I think "community investment" includes all kinds of things though. Football fans or not I thought Rovers could have been one potential outlet in this regard.

"Supporting local communities with a view to empowering individuals to grow, contribute and succeed."

Guess that definition is more related to community employment opportunities rather than sponsoring football clubs.
 
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Vinjay

Senior Member
Site is a little underwhelming if you're really bothered about graphics, etc. I'm more interested in the content and I think that kinda downplays their success a bit. One recent headline (from that garbage newspaper but I doubt they would get a headline reporting these figures wrong) for instance being this...

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...ages_to_expand_into_US_with__2bn_acquisition/

Bit more relevant than investing 6 million towards renewable energy sources.
 

yoda

Senior Member
Site is a little underwhelming if you're really bothered about graphics, etc. I'm more interested in the content and I think that kinda downplays their success a bit. One recent headline (from that garbage newspaper but I doubt they would get a headline reporting these figures wrong) for instance being this...

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...ages_to_expand_into_US_with__2bn_acquisition/

Bit more relevant than investing 6 million towards renewable energy sources.
Have I got this right, you would like them to get involved with the Rovers but you are knocking them before the event ?
 

Vinjay

Senior Member
No I'm not knocking them. That page does not mention things like the companies estimated value or other major acquisitions. I thought people might have been underwhelmed by the design of the site but as I've said content matters more to me. So if anything I was trying to build up their reputation for anyone who might not know more.

Anyway like I've said their idea of giving back to the community is more via jobs than sponsoring football clubs. Jack did the former and of course he went beyond wildest expectations with the latter. I'm not saying they are potentially the next messiah lol just thought they might be a good club partner. In all honesty I kinda think its a good idea not to get involved in football. Of course I'm not saying a takeover from the right people would be a bad thing. Just that from a conscience standpoint part of me would almost want to warn them against it.

I think Jack may have thought twice considering what his family influenced trustees were allowed to get away with. Not to mention footballers being typically greedy and selfish with the Dalglish remarks towards Jack in his book particularly upsetting me. It was just the sheer coldness of it. Or being called "pious" by certain people for treating Jack with too much respect.

I've noticed they have banned alcohol being sold in their petrol stations, etc. I'm not sure if that's one of the reasons they don't really want to sponsor a football club. Venkys after all have similar beliefs against alcohol and gambling but allowed Dafabet to sponsor the club. They could have easily prevented that though I'm sure even they wouldn't consider banning alcohol sales at games lol.

I don't know why any garages/petrol stations are allowed to sell alcohol. Of course some supermarkets and petrol stations come as a "package" so its not like they couldn't just buy some anyway. This article explores the issue though...

https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/petrol-stations-allowed-sell-alcohol-4956753
 
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Drog

Administrator
Staff member
No idea how or what believers in different religions think (certainly wonder why on earth anyone would bother believing silly fairy stories) but it's pretty certain there is a great divide between Hindu's and muslims.

Anyway I'd imagine the Izzas have too much savvy to spew money on English football. As Sugar once when questioned on why he wasn't doing a 'Jack Walker' with Spurs 'he's an idiot with a death wish'. He later retracted it of course but he wasn't far off the truth with many wannabee club owners spewing fortuneson the game. Very few ever manage to make profit... and when they do take some profit out the supporters invariably turn against them. I can't begin to estimate how wealthy I'd have to be before I'd take over a football club.
 

Vinjay

Senior Member
Well I'm pretty sure Venkys feel the same way on alcohol and gambling. I'm sure their views on the Dafabet deal are accurate. Anyway I don't want to go into a religion debate just posted something about that elsewhere. Fairy stories is how I see it as well anyway.

Jack wasn't an idiot with a death wish. Did he squander all his fortune? No. Did his greedy relatives influence a bunch of trustees and prevent Rovers being subsidised by other businesses in the Walker portfolio? Yes. I recognise they still had limitations compared to the very richest owners but that's besides the point. I think Jack would have tried to sell but only to someone who could offer greater financial support and knew what relegation is. Not on a crooked deal with Anderson (on which I believe the Walkers were complicit with and probably took a cut from his gains) serving up mugs like Venkys to the trustees.

Anyway sponsorship and being the next messiah are different things as I've said. I just thought the former may have been perfectly realistic but if they want to support the community via other routes that's their prerogative.
 

Barmitzvah Boy

Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
No I'm not knocking them. That page does not mention things like the companies estimated value or other major acquisitions. I thought people might have been underwhelmed by the design of the site but as I've said content matters more to me. So if anything I was trying to build up their reputation for anyone who might not know more.

Anyway like I've said their idea of giving back to the community is more via jobs than sponsoring football clubs. Jack did the former and of course he went beyond wildest expectations with the latter. I'm not saying they are potentially the next messiah lol just thought they might be a good club partner. In all honesty I kinda think its a good idea not to get involved in football. Of course I'm not saying a takeover from the right people would be a bad thing. Just that from a conscience standpoint part of me would almost want to warn them against it.

I think Jack may have thought twice considering what his family influenced trustees were allowed to get away with. Not to mention footballers being typically greedy and selfish with the Dalglish remarks towards Jack in his book particularly upsetting me. It was just the sheer coldness of it. Or being called "pious" by certain people for treating Jack with too much respect.

I've noticed they have banned alcohol being sold in their petrol stations, etc. I'm not sure if that's one of the reasons they don't really want to sponsor a football club. Venkys after all have similar beliefs against alcohol and gambling but allowed Dafabet to sponsor the club. They could have easily prevented that though I'm sure even they wouldn't consider banning alcohol sales at games lol.

I don't know why any garages/petrol stations are allowed to sell alcohol. Of course some supermarkets and petrol stations come as a "package" so its not like they couldn't just buy some anyway. This article explores the issue though...

https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/petrol-stations-allowed-sell-alcohol-4956753
Their petrol station at Cherry Tree, near the Feilden’s sells alcohol. More of a trade in it at that location that many others ;)
 

Vinjay

Senior Member
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Drog

Administrator
Staff member
Their petrol station at Cherry Tree, near the Feilden’s sells alcohol. More of a trade in it at that location that many others ;)
The shop franchise there is a SPAR isn't it?
 

Drog

Administrator
Staff member
Well I'm pretty sure Venkys feel the same way on alcohol and gambling. I'm sure their views on the Dafabet deal are accurate. Anyway I don't want to go into a religion debate just posted something about that elsewhere. Fairy stories is how I see it as well anyway.

Jack wasn't an idiot with a death wish. Did he squander all his fortune? No. Did his greedy relatives influence a bunch of trustees and prevent Rovers being subsidised by other businesses in the Walker portfolio? Yes. I recognise they still had limitations compared to the very richest owners but that's besides the point. I think Jack would have tried to sell but only to someone who could offer greater financial support and knew what relegation is. Not on a crooked deal with Anderson (on which I believe the Walkers were complicit with and probably took a cut from his gains) serving up mugs like Venkys to the trustees.

Anyway sponsorship and being the next messiah are different things as I've said. I just thought the former may have been perfectly realistic but if they want to support the community via other routes that's their prerogative.
Vinjay, you write lots or bile about the Trustees, Northcote, Anderson (valid) etc etc yet to the best of my knowledge you never mention Rothschilds and in particular their role in all this. Why is that?
 

Vinjay

Senior Member
Rothschilds are involved in countless transactions whereas the others are individuals, families and trustees more closely associated with Rovers. Your point in regards to them is accurate. I've overlooked them in the grand scheme of things and should question their role mainly what the hell did they do for 3 years? I'm not sure how heavily involved they were with Anderson's manipulation of Venkys though and didn't they get dropped for Anderson in the 1st place? A lot easier too for Matthewman and Co to scheme with Anderson rather than a gigantic investment bank. Of course such banks can have corrupt executives but look at the amount of employees they must have and the sheer volume of transactions, etc. How are we supposed to know exactly who at Rothschilds were the "liaisons" so to speak?

Still like you have said they didn't do their job. They probably were neglectful but perhaps in a different way to Anderson's handling of things.
 

Vinjay

Senior Member
Isn't my hate list long enough already? Bloody hell its been hard enough trying to pin things on Anderson, etc and trying to get more hate directed at the Walkers + trustees. I doubt the Rothschilds family members were all on tenterhooks day and night praying that they could milk Rovers. Its only like they control 2 trillion worth of assets and have numerous billionaires in the family, etc. Unless there was a "Peter Schuler" at Rothschilds with Anderson (and in my view Matthewman) being the "Gus Fring" then there's really no blatant neglect there. I think in Rothschilds case such neglect would have been more "passive". Who's to even say it was the same consultants/liaisons during that period?

They are damn sure no Gus Fring but some people will understand my analogy lol. By the way Gus having a chicken chain as his legitimate front for drug operations isn't anything to do with it! Anderson didn't own Venkys after all and the closest things to "mugs" Gus had were the DEA and Cartel. Its quite a stretch even putting them in the Venkys role (which they don't really fit anyway) since they were not so gullible or incompetent! They were just his main enemies and people he fooled whereas Walt wouldn't really fit in anywhere! Unless you want to point out that he had a cancerous effect on nearly everyone he dealt with like Venkys have at Rovers lol.

To point out more for those who don't know Schuler headed one of the numerous divisions at a large global/multi-national corporation so that's where my Rothschild analogy comes in. That's the most fitting analogy as like I've said Anderson/Matthewman aren't really worthy of being compared to Gus lol. Anyway bit of a drag reading this post if you didn't watch Breaking Bad. Bit of a drag for me trying to make all the analogies fit too lol.
 
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tomphil

Senior Member
Their petrol station at Cherry Tree, near the Feilden’s sells alcohol. More of a trade in it at that location that many others ;)
The most annoying petrol station in England that place the pay at the pumps is never working and there's never any soap in the pressure washer.

Gives an idea of how these types work there has to be a twist on everything they can never just do what it says on the tin !
 

Barmitzvah Boy

Global winner of the 2021 Christmas Quiz 👊🤩🤩
The most annoying petrol station in England that place the pay at the pumps is never working and there's never any soap in the pressure washer.

Gives an idea of how these types work there has to be a twist on everything they can never just do what it says on the tin !
I suspect the pay at the pump would work if they were allowed to take Bitcons.

I am surprised at the number of folk who pay cash for fuel at this Petrol Station. Tells you everything about the Blackburn economy. I rarely carry cash anymore (£10max) and always use a card.
 
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