The more you delve in to the Rovers accounts, the more detail you can uncover, but as ever, the outcome remains the same: the club is heavily reliant on the backing of owners Venky’s, this time to the tune of £18m.

There are several camps among supporters when discussing the club’s Indian owners, approaching nine-and-a-half years at the Ewood helm.

There are those who have put the past to one side and fear for where the club would be without them, acknowledging their continued support.

Others put the current level of financing required to be of their own making, pointing to mistakes made in their early days in charge that have set the club back, and still being paid for now.

Some are happy with their 'behind the scenes' ownership, without the furore and hysteria of before, their financing only becoming apparent during the publishing of the club accounts, as well as those of Rovers’ parent company, Venky’s London Limited.

Some may never forgive, or forget.

Whichever camp in which you sit, the figures remain eye-watering, their publishing raising the question again of how sustainable is the club’s current model? But every month, bills keep being paid, and the improved communication lines between Ewood and Pune offers reassurance.

The Rovers of today is at least showing progress, with chief executive Steve Waggott rightly pointing to the increase in commercial activity, ticketing and retail as positives. On the pitch, things appear to be heading in the right direction, sitting three points off the play-offs, and the mood around the training ground one of optimism.

Losses of £18m, even despite the 86 per cent rise in income created by promotion from the third tier, are no longer shocking, many won’t have even batted an eyelid, symptomatic of the game today, particularly in the Championship where wage demands are rising at disproportionate levels to income and revenue streams.

And this is the quandary Rovers find themselves in. How everyone would love a Premier League return, but how do they go about achieving it?

Rovers’ wage bill of £22.5m, which included both playing and non-playing staff, came at a cost, with £1.37 being spent on wages for every pound received in revenue.

The club pointed to the necessary wage budget rise to remain competitive in a league that has wealthy owners soaking up debts, harbouring dreams of reaching the pot of gold that is the Premier League. It’s just one good season away, after all.

But even then, with their current wage structure, Rovers would need to punch above their weight, in budgetary terms, to make the top six.

How sustainable are the losses? Well, Rovers were eager to point out they remained compliant with profit and sustainability rules, but it remains a close run thing.

Sustainable and steady growth both on and off the pitch remains the aim, but that’s easier said than done, and there are countless examples of failed Championship promotion bids being followed by years of paying for those mistakes.

The significant investment in the club’s recruitment department is one area the club will help their aim as will the trading of players, with only David Raya’s departure pocketing a seven-figure fee since selling Ben Marshall in January 2017.

Fans will remember the ‘one sale a summer’ model of yester-year, and while no-one will wish away any of the current crop before having chance to enjoy them reach their peak, transfer fees received would be a significant way of boosting club coffers, while also reinvesting in the squad to take it forward.

Since Marshall’s departure, Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton and Gallagher have been brought in for a combined total of around £13m, and while it is clear the value of the squad now far exceeds the one Tony Mowbray inherited 38 months ago, there will need to be a return on that soon, whether it comes in the next year with a solid promotion push, or players are moved on at significant profit.

Credit must go to the owners for the £4m a year investment, and those working tirelessly behind the scenes at the club’s Category One Academy, for the number, and quality, of players to have graduated through the Brockhall talent factory in recent years, to help supplement the first-team squad. It may have its detractors, but right now, it is paying for itself.

Football isn’t immune to a global pandemic, not least because of the economic impact the coronavirus will have on clubs and its owners, making predictions on what the future will look like very difficult.

Rovers are no different, Venky’s seeing a nine per cent fall in their share price at the beginning of last month as India went in to a 21-day lockdown. They remain committed to funding the club, highlighted through footing the bill for the latest losses, and stating it will ‘continue to do so for the foreseeable future’.

Tough decisions lie ahead for the club’s hierarchy on how they negotiate their way through the current climate, but all signs point to Venky’s being in it for the long haul.

There isn't a need to be grateful, Rovers aren't a charity after all. But right now, more than ever, their financial support is needed.