pongo88

This must be the best one: "I remember that the directors went on a fact finding mission to look at a stadium that was under construction in Wiltshire "

Wael is on about evolution gain. The dodo was a result of evolution. It evolved over time to take maximum advantage of its splendid isolation but then became extinct.

A good cup run beating Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal away en route to the final will help financiall

When I was at school in the 60s the local derbies were usually close with the results likely to go either way. There were exceptions and I still get nightmares thinking about the time I saw Rovers beat City 4-0 at Eastville. Three nil down after approx 12 minutes! How times have changed

As they used to play at Trumptom, why not ask Chippy Minton, the carpenter, to help?

Watch out Joe! If you're learning history by reading the OTIB forum you're going to end up believing some crazy things

Danny Baker supports Milwall so I'm not eating a sausage sandwich today as a matter of principle.

Most thought last season's transfer window was good but we only avoided relegation by 3 points. Balance players who have left / will leave (Flint) against those who have joined City and the team isn't really much stronger. Still time to make more signings and hopefully LJ has learned some tactical awareness

I liked the comment: "Ha. That will set off the 82ers" Well, we're still here. An even better comment was: "I don't know whether to laugh or cry...my guts is churning round reading the new owners comments. Things like this just don't happen to us.!!!!!" I expect he's now decided to cry

This just about says it all doesn't it. Bristol Rovers saved by Adolf Hitler!

Some of the Rovers directors at the time were also invoked with the greyhound company that bought the ground, which was a conflict of interest. History repeated itself when Rovers moved to the Minimal Stadium as the Bristol Rugby owner, Malcolm Pearce, was a lifelong Rovers supporter. He put the rugby club into administration and Rovers bought the ground for £10k

The news was started on Twitter by someone who was respected by Rovers fans. In no time it was on their forum and then ours. The cat was out of the bag and, as a anyone who has a cat knows, once a cat gets out of a bag you can't get it back in

This made me think of a Winston Churchill speech: Never in the field of supporting a football team have so many fans been led up the garden path, so often, by so few directors

I beleive Wael went on holiday as no announcement was planned. Dwane Sports was forced to issue a statement (at 11.00pm!) because the news was leaked. This then begs the question, what did he hope to gain by delaying the news? Perhaps more time to develop an exit strategy?

I can remember Double Your Money. The theme tune used to end with the words "Double your money and take it away!" I think its the "take it away" part that should worry Rovers fans with Wael in charge. And I mean that most sincerely folks. (with apologies to Hughie Green)

Should money be found from somewhere to redevelop the Minimal Stadium, it should be relatively inexpensive due to the cramped shape and size of the plot of land. There is no space to build a large replacement for the tent end as houses are immediately behind. All that could be built is a replacement, the same size, with a proper roof. There is exactly the same problem with the side of the ground that looks like a cricket pavilion. There is more room at the Filton Avenue end but, due to the proximity of houses, they would have the same right to light issue as City have with the Atyeo stand. The remaining side of the ground has a bit more space so something a bit bigger could be done. Redevelopment might be possible for £15m - £20m but capacity couldn't be any more than 15k at a push. There is currently standing in some parts of the ground and replacing standing with seating reduces capacity with a like for like size stand All that is needed is £15m - £20m.

A couple of years ago it looked like Rovers were set for administration due to the size of the debt to Nick Higgs and the Wonga loan. With any normal club this would have happened, but not the Barcelona of the West Country, Bristol Rovers. Nick Higgs pulled off a masterstroke and found a sucker from the middle east to bail them out. This masterstroke enabled us to laugh at the tales of Wael's endless wealth making him the 6th richest man in the world. It enabled us to laugh at the comments on the Rovers' forum about the imminent new ground. It has extended the delusion of the Rovers fans. I think we should all give heartfelt thanks to Nick Higgs for all the amusement he has brought us.

Legal charges are a method of securing debts. In other words Wael is worried that should it all go pear shaped (if it hasn't already) he will not lose the money used to pay off Nick Higgs and other directors plus the Wonga loan. Should the Minimal Stadium be sold, he will be guaranteed to receive the money - approx £9m for Nick Higgs & and directors plus approx £3m Wonga. After he has received his £14m the other creditors will get their money and if there is then anything left it could go to the club. So, Rovers might be left with, say, a couple of hundred pounds to enable them to build a new ground. Placing is charge is hardly the action of a billionaire who has long term grandiose plans for the club. It's the actions of a man who realises he's out of his depth in the world of football and finance and wants to get out.

Design Windows insolvency meeting was in August 2015 https://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/design-windows-(south-west)

Didn't Design Windows go bankrupt? Very approprite for a Bristol Rovers sponsor!

Quite right Miah old bean. This is not up to the standard of Qubix who sponsor Ashley FC in the Downs League, but Thorntons have got to start somewhere http://www.qubixtech.com/ashley-afc-shirt-sponsors/

There is an undefined date before Jan 2018 that's important. This date is when the building contractor is announced. To ensure the permission doesn't lapse, work must commence before it expires in January. A couple of men can't just turn up with shovels and dig a hole, so Wael must appoint a contractor soon so that they can start work. The longer there is no announcement, the less likely work will start

I met someone in a shop the other day who told me about this poor gnome. Apparently he was standing in his normal place in his garden when another gas gnome came over and said he would duff him up unless he moved. He was so traumatised by this that he's left home and now lives with a kind City supporter.

I'd suggest a lot less. There are various opinions on what is the average weekly salary in league 1, but the site below is reasonable - between £1,700 - £2,500. The problem with averages is that they don't tell you the individual incidences or the range. There will be some clubs with a big budget who have players on much higher salaries and some poor clubs with young players who have lower salaries. Rovers, who are losing money, are not a rich club and have players who were signed in non league or league 2 days. Therefore their average salary should be somewhere near the lower end of the scale http://www.onaverage.co.uk/money-averages/average-premier-league-salary