With our current lack of transfer activity I'd be happy for Wellens to come back. He may not be the same player but in this day and era age doesn't matter! Many players go on to their late 30's and can still perform. He has championship experience, he knows the club, what's happened before was before, this is now, its a no brainer for me.

I agree Azza - if the club is going to develop and promote young talent, then we also need guile and experience in all areas - it's all about getting the right blend - and Wellens does have the know how to make things happen on the pitch and to open teams up.

Derubbish...I too remember the celebration it upset baby Lanza at the time

Yes Lanza. I nearly threw the lap top as I was watching it on some obsure link.
Can I forgive him? I suppose so but he will get a reminder from a few in the West Stand.
The worst I've seen in ages was Gaz Roberts I could have gone to town on him.
Then again Billy wasn't unhappy was he?
Forgive and forget?
It's puzzling to me when we as supporters show respect for ex players, it should be reciprocated.

Derubbish....James Hayter did not celebrate.Legend

Respect.
We owe a lot to Hayts.

Why shouldnt a player celebrate scoring a goal.
Sharp didnt hold back when he scored against us and some on here would welcome him back.
If Wellens does come back he would be a good addition to the squad.
His bite and knowhow would be good for us.

too old, too slow,inj prone at his fittest.

Perfect then Lanza.

Yet another story emerges tonight (in the Mirror) http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-stephen-2086709 about the Villa Irish contingent supposedly on their way to us.

Whether or not there is truth in this, and surely the press, local and national cannot all be wrong, it is time that the club either fornally admitted to negotiations or dismissed them. By remaining silent the club is beginning to look as naive as the proverbial ostrich. To imagine that, with so much information, accurate or otherwise, in the media, they have no duty to provide official news is to severely underestimate the embarrassment for the club that will follow the eventual publication of what has been going on.

If indeed it is all "rubbish" as JR said over a week ago, I will now be very surprised.

Donaldo, I agree with you in principle, but the fact is that Non Disclosure Agreements may have been signed with a threat that there will be some legal recourse or that negotiations will be terminated if the NDA is breached. It is far from satisfactory and worrying for fans. The lack of transfer and contract re-sign activity would suggest that some negotiations are taking place but the shrinkage of remaining pre-season time does not bode well for our chances for the start of the season.
I just hope that the current owners have put a time limit in place whereby they will move forward on the assumption that a deal is not going to happen if agreement isn't reached by a certain date - that would enable the club to at least get the out of contract players and Forrester sorted out and give them more time to finalise any investment deal ahead of the January transfer window.

Crazy: Thanks. I imagine that a typical NDA could certainly go as far as precluding release of the identity of the parties, in Rovers' case the other party. But it seems to be the case that what is going on is holding up the settlement of player contracts and important aspects of preparation for the new season.

They could admit to the negotiations and as you say specify an end date; not doing so is utterly gauche.

This is crucially important especially if the talks fail. In business terms there is a major impact on the "product" for which season ticket holders have committed funds.

As someone put it on the Radio this morning the fans are the soul of the football club and it might follow that the club could also be seen as having a spiritual duty to maintain their faith. DRFC are very fond of using the loyalty argument when the management are under siege, but they have quite deliberately turned their backs on them this time.

If they want fans to “engage” they need a sympathetic entity to engage with. Right now it has shut up shop and effectively told them to go away.

So if you don't know negotiations are going on then you wouldn't know if they had failed or not . Ergo no major impact on the product.

According to the OS, Paul Keegan has now signed for a further year.

Nookie: Yes, but the point is that there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that they are, and the impact on the product is the loss of time to properly assemble it by the date it is needed.

Where are they hiding all these players who are allegedly with the club - Given for example and where is Wellens training?

If none of it is true it is one of the most elaborate peices of fabrication I've ever encountered.

And OK I'm impatient too.

I would think that O'Brien will get whatever he wants in these negotiations. The likes of our board are light weights compared to him.

Whatever transpires we are starting one hell of a journey this season.

What will be be will be and I will still be a Rovers supporter. But.................

The cynic in me says

"All that glitters isn't gold"

McCullough signs a 2 year deal

It's glisters not glitters, but Its bound to be interesting as usual for us. PD appears happy with the situation and more than likely sees a possible cash injection as a bonus rather than a prerequisite for his plans for the season. Several announcements today already so patience is a virtue and lets wait to see what the product looks like a week on Saturday.

re Luke McCullough- "They were all over each other and they just couldn’t help themselves. Officers told them to move on and they agreed but they didn’t get very far before they were at it again."

I like his style - a real trier

Nookie thank you for the correction but I think you knew what I meant.
I just love it when some superior being corrects the meaning/spelling of a lesser being like myself.
Just what would I do without you pointing me in the right direction?

Alex you are always my hero and RTID is the right direction!

If I was a ruthless business man negotiating a deal, I would drag it out until I got what I wanted knowing that the other side was on limited time, and I could walk away at any time without losing anything!
Cynical?
Never!
But the other side has a ruthless business man on it as well!

I wouldn't be surprised if that is the game O'Brien is playing.

O'Brien is as you say is ruthless, a hard nut, who makes our board light weight by comparison.

I have been very critical of Bramall and Watson but we do know what to expect while they are there. I suppose I have a fear of the unknown with this tyrant.

Will he be good for the club? we just don't know.

With the greatest of respect.
Anyone who knows Terry Brammall would not class him as lightweight in his business affairs.

The bottom line is surely that the current business model works and it is up to those who want to join to meet the terms of those who are in possession. If you want a share of the cake, being ruthless with those who are hosting the party does not work.

The Board are in the position of strength. They may not have the resources to retain all the existing squad without the additional capital, but they are not desperate.

I acknowledge that new investors may WANT to set controlling terms, but JR, DW and TB seem to take pride in their stewardship and whilst they may not begrudge the Irish a share of the business they would want to see the incoming resources (and super-shrewd business acumen) to maximise what DRFC makes out of the stadium asset. I just cannot see JR etc handing over control of the football club which would always be the mainstay of the enterprise. All of them surely have all the money they need.