Here is a round-up of Rovers-related news.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR

Rovers have confirmed that an ‘administrative error’ was the reason behind the appointment, and subsequent termination, of a new director.

An update on Companies House last week stated that Mr Rohan Bhagwat had been appointed as a director of Blackburn Rovers Football and Athletic Limited.

That was dated June 9 and published on June 23, but a termination with the same dates attached was later published.

The club have since confirmed to the Lancashire Telegraph that was an ‘administrative error’.

Mr Bhagwat had been listed as a director of Venkateshwara London Limited, the company set up by Rovers’ owners ahead of the sale of the training ground.

He is also listed as a Company Director of Venky’s (India) Limited having been appointed in April 2017.

It means that Rovers still have three registered directors in Steve Waggott, Mike Cheston and Gandhi Babu, alongside secretary Ian Silvester.

Rob Coar is also a non-executive director of the club.

Rovers’ parent company, Venky’s London Limited, have four directors all appointed in October 2010 ahead of the purchase of the club.

They are Anuradha Desai, Jitendra Desai, Balaji Rao and Venkatesh Rao.

 

DOM’S POLISH PRIDE

Dominik Biniek says his call-up for Poland Under-19s’ European Championship tilt is a big moment for him and his family.

The 18-year-old Rovers forward has been included in a 21-man squad for the eight-team tournament, which gets under way on July 3 in Malta.

Poland have been drawn in Group A, where they will face Portugal, Malta and Italy, with the top two teams progressing through to the semi-finals.

It is only the second time in Poland’s history that they have qualified for the Euro finals at Under-19 level, and first since 2004.

Biniek will be joined in the squad by Rovers team-mate Junior Nsangou and will be the sole representatives at the tournament, with Ash Phillips and Adam Wharton having been part of the England side edged out in qualifying.

“For me it’s massive, said Biniek, who signed his first professional contract earlier this summer.

“Playing for Poland everyone in our little town, where we’re from, supports me and knows me, which is a good feeling.

“Knowing that I can represent them, every time I put the Poland shirt on I just want to fight for it even more and play as many games as I can.

“Hopefully we can create a bit of history and it’s something to look forward to – playing on a big stage and playing for a big prize, which only happens once a year at that age group.

“I think it’s only the second time that we’ve managed to qualify and the other time was quite a few years back, so it’s good to renew the history and build it from there with the squad we’ve got.

“We’ve got a good team and everyone in Poland wants to see us do well. It’s something that we’re all looking forward to rather than being scared of.”

Poland kick-off their campaign against Portugal on Monday, July 3, before facing the hosts three days and then rounding off the group stages against Italy on Sunday, July 9.

 

WOMEN SIGN WILLIAMS

Rovers Women have announced the permanent signing of Chloe Williams.

She joins on a two-year deal after two successful loan spells at the club.

Williams first joined in November 2021 on a dual registration with Manchester United before joining again on the same deal last summer ahead of the 2022/23 Barclays Women’s Championship season.

The Wales international has racked up 27 appearances in the blue-and-white halves so far and bagged her first goal for the club in style earlier this year against Charlton Athletic.

The 22-year-old is also a regular face in the Wales national team camps, and she made her senior bow in February 2022 against Belgium in the Pinatar Cup.

Williams becomes the first signing of the summer for Rovers who are in the process of recruiting a new head coach following the departure of Gemma Donnelly in April.

 

HATTERS HANG ON TO BELL

Amari’i Bell has signed a new contract with Luton Town.

Bell saw his previous deal expire this summer, but was offered the chance to stay and become part of Rob Edwards’ Premier League squad.

The 29-year-old has been a mainstay of the Hatters side since joining two years ago following his release by Rovers.

He has clocked up 97 appearances in that time, including a stand-out display in the play-off final win over Coventry City.

And the former Rovers full back says he’s excited by what the future can hold.

He said: “It’s an opportunity that everyone wants to take, and I can’t wait for it.

“It was just a matter of time, but I’m so happy to get it done and now all I can think about is coming back and getting ready for the season ahead.

“The excitement, I don’t think words can describe it. I think all the boys were waiting for the fixture list to come out and when we saw it, the achievement sinks in.

“It’s definitely an opportunity that I’m going to grasp with both hands and make it count. We can all have a huge sense of pride that we’ve achieved something like this in our career.

No length of contract has been published by Luton, as is standard practice for the Hatters, but will see Bell take his stay at Kenilworth Road into at least a third year.

He spent three-and-a-half years at Ewood Park, playing 99 times before leaving in 2021.

Delighted to have him signed up, boss Edwards said: “If he wasn’t already, Amari’i quickly became one of our most important players after we came in. From our first game when he got sent off against Middlesbrough, to how he performed in the play-off final, in that second half of the season he was outstanding.

“I know he had done it before, but with us changing his position slightly, I thought he took to it so well. He’s an experienced player, but I think he’s shown more confidence and belief in himself, more maturity in his play, more bravery.

“To get his contract sorted is really pleasing.”

 

GOODWILLIE BACKLASH

FC Sorrento have become the latest club to backtrack on signing former Scotland striker David Goodwillie in the wake of a public backlash, the Press Association reports.

The Australian second-tier side announced on Wednesday that they had recruited the 34-year-old, who was ruled by a judge at a civil court case in 2017 to have raped a woman in 2011.

"SFC are pleased to announce we have added three players to our mid season first team. Clay Gibbs, David Goodwillie & Callum Dobbs have all joined!" read the initial statement from the Perth-based club.

After the news was not well-received on social media, however, Sorrento released another statement just hours later revealing they had cancelled Goodwillie's contract.

"Sorrento Football Club has rescinded its contract with David Goodwillie," it read.

"David was scheduled to arrive in Perth within the next week to commence playing with the Club for the remainder of the 2023 NPLM season.

"The arrangement was non-commercial in nature.

"The Club has informed David of its decision and apologises to anyone in our football and broader community that may have been caused offence by his signing."