For obvious reasons there has been much talk recently concerning the role and purpose of Select Committees to scrutinise governments and outside agencies and make them accountable for their actions. I should imagine that the consensus among Rovers' followers would be to have a similar committee to question the owners' intentions given recent mixed messages at Ewood.

I was hoping by now to give my views on the possible exports and imports taking place at the club with less than a month to go before the big kick off. But it appears that we may have to wait some time before we see some new additions added to the squad. I said a few weeks ago that I was prepared to give the owners time during what is largely the pantomime of the transfer window. However the perplexing statement released by the club on Monday to "clarify the strategy of optimising the current playing squad..." only succeeded in muddying the waters and adding to the supporters continued anxiety as to what the immediate direction of the club is.

The statement went on to say that there would not be any comment on transfer speculation and that a "striker and midfielder" were needed to enhance the squad. The tone of this very sombre statement is in complete contrast to the outlandish promises of the owners and Steve Kean after the relief of securing Premier League status. Kean alluded to the prospect of having the most substantial transfer kitty to spend for some time and the Venkys promises that the money recouped from the Phil Jones transfer would be spent on strengthening the squad along with other capital being made available as well.

It is no secret that Kean would like the Argentinian striker Hugo Pavone and Monaco defender Cedric Mongongu to join the ranks but both deals have hit stumbling blocks at the 11th hour. This maybe a result of the reports circulating that the Venkys have frozen transfer funds until the club's overdraft is reduced. If this is the case then the club and supporters are in for a desperately long and depressing winter.

Even without the departures of RSC, the two Dioufs,(El Hadji has apparently gone AWOL) the two Jones boys and the possible sale of our skipper to a North London side, most of us felt we needed 5 or 6 new faces to limit the possibility of a repeat performance of last season's debacle. Furthermore, we expected money to be spent on a mixture of youth and experience similar to the Sunderland transfer model of this close season. We did not expect the scenario of players being brought in on short term deals or expensive has-beens ready for a final pay cheque before being carried off into the sunset.

With less than a month to go before we kick off the campaign against Wolves, we have no Chairman, no Chief Executive, no club doctor, no shirt sponsor, and not even a replica shirt in the shops (with or without sponsor) for the supporters to purchase to at least show their solidarity with the club if not with the owners. While on the subject of the shirt, I hope the marketing department don't look a gift horse in the mouth and release the wonderful new shirt as soon as possible to buy. West Brom released their kit without a sponsor a few seasons ago and sales rocketed.

This is going to be a crucial couple of weeks coming up for the club and a time that will define our season. It is probably for the best that the visit to India on route to the Hong Kong tournament has been cancelled due to security concerns. This should give the owners more time to resolve the various situations the club currently finds itself in.

There have however been further unsubstantiated rumours flying around today. One of which suggests that Steve Kean's frustration at the lack of communication and inactivity has reached boiling point and he is ready to jump ship. If the Venkys own boy can't deal with the current situation then no manager in the world would be able to do so.

Finally, the footnote from the statement by the club asked "the supporters to remain patient." Generally, the fans have been magnificent, but patience is a commodity that is rapidly running out.

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