Latest news with #SteveWaggott
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Blackburn CEO Waggott leaves after seven years
Blackburn Rovers chief executive Steve Waggott has left the Championship club after seven years in 70-year-old joined the club in December 2017 having previously been chief executive at Coventry City, Charlton Athletic and arrived in the same season that Rovers won automatic promotion from League One to the Championship at the first then Rovers have remained in the second tier and this season, despite a promising first half of the campaign, they ultimately missed out on a play-off place by two points."We would like to thank Steve for his work over the past seven years and we wish him well for his future endeavours," a club statement said., externalThe club have not yet made clear who will take over from Waggott or when an appointment will be made. Waggott's exit from the club comes amid fan protests against his position and that of owners Venky's during this March, a collection of Blackburn Rovers supporters groups called upon Waggott as well as head of football operations Rudy Gestede and chief operating officer, and representative of the owners, Suhail Pasha to not attend their final eight league groups believed the trio had become a target for frustrations at how the club was being run and argued that their absence could result in a more positive environment for the team to perform response, the club welcomed the call for unity, but insisted the senior leadership team would continue to attend a dip in form under new boss Valerien Ismael during which they went almost two months without a win, Blackburn eventually rallied at the tail end of the a run of four wins and two draws to close out the season, however, they narrowly missed out on a top six place on the final Rovers confirmed on Tuesday its women's team would drop out of the second tier Women's Championship next season because owners Venky's are unwilling to meet the league's requirements on facilities, player welfare and was a decision which defender Rachel Dugdale said had left the club's players feeling "devalued" by the "lack of communication" shown.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rovers hierarchy urged to not attend games by fans
A collection of Blackburn Rovers supporters groups are calling upon senior club officials to stay away from the side's remaining games this fan groups want chief executive officer Steve Waggott, head of football operations Rudy Gestede and chief operating officer and representative of the owners' Suhail Pasha to not attend any of the last eight league groups believe that these figures have become a target for frustrations at how the club is being run and their absence could result in a more positive environment for the team to perform have slipped to ninth in the Championship, five points adrift of the play-off spots. Rovers have taken just one point from their past five games, including four matches under new head coach Valerien Frenchman arrived to replace John Eustace, who left the club to join struggling Derby County last a season that looked so promising is threatening to go the other way, as a run of six straight wins in November and December had Blackburn as high as fifth in the table and hopeful of maintaining a play-off club needed a strong transfer window to reinforce gaps in the squad but ended up scrambling in three players on deadline since that strong run before Christmas, they have only collected 15 points from their past 18 also face a situation this summer when 12 players either end their loan deals or are out of contract. 'Jack Walker's legacy eroded' Against this backdrop, the fan groups state that the presence of Waggott, Gestede and Pasha has become a "source of division" amongst supporters and that their absence could engender a more "unified and focused atmosphere".They are unhappy at the direction the club is taking on what is also the 30th anniversary of their Premier League title statement on X, external said: "Supporters' frustrations have grown due to concerns over the management of playing assets, declining matchday attendances and reports of executive pay increases during a period of serious uncertainty for the club." Rovers fans also believe that it is time for new ownership at the club after nearly 15 years under the Venky's."There is a growing sentiment that Jack Walker's [former owner's] legacy is being slowly eroded, resulting in an increasing desire for new ownership," they said. Blackburn's next match is away to Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 GMT).The BBC has contacted Blackburn football club for their response.
