BRFCS understand that owners Venky’s are currently considering the future of manager Steve Kean, who is due to fly out to Pune for a Tuesday meeting with the Rao family after the final match of the season at Chelsea. It is understood that Kean has been putting forward a number of proposals to ensure that he remains in a position of power and influence at the club, including the installation of club’s PR agent Paul Agnew as CEO while Kean takes over as director of football.

It is understood that some members of the Rao family are still labouring under the misapprehension that it is currently only a small number of fans who believe that Steve Kean is detrimental to the club’s long-term future and a massive negative influence on fans’ support for the club and on season-ticket sales.

Aside from the abysmal record of Steve Kean as manager of Blackburn Rovers and the woeful playing performances by the team over the course of the last season and a half, BRFCS believe that the continued presence of Steve Kean at our football club is a major factor in the breakdown in trust between club and fans. We are therefore petitioning Blackburn Rovers chairwoman Mrs Desai, in the letter below, to take action with her fellow owners to remove Steve Kean from our club as a first step in helping to stabilise the club.

We are therefore asking all Rovers fans to show their support for this action by joining with us in this petition. Please add your REAL NAMES to the petition by adding a comment below. Note that this is an open petition and that the posts below are not associated in any way with the BRFCS forums. Anybody may join the petition without registering as a member.

Simply put your name in the Comment box below and hit the Post Comment button. Do not add any messages — if you wish to make such a comment, please visit our forums and join in the discussions there. Note that if you wish to add more than one name from your household, you should place these on a separate line and only with the express consent of the person(s) concerned. BRFCS will make a list of all those who join the petition and will send this to Mrs Desai directly.

Dear Mrs Desai,

We, the undersigned, would like to request that Venky’s, as owners and custodians of our historic football club, terminate the employment of Mr Steve Kean at Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect.

We, the supporters of Blackburn Rovers, have no faith whatsoever in the ability of Steve Kean to manage a football team nor be involved in the running of a professional football club. His record as a manager during his 18-month spell in charge of the club is among the worst in the twenty-year history of the Premier League and he is undoubtedly the worst and arguably the most unpopular manager in the entire 137-year history of our football club.

Notwithstanding relegation from the Premier League, the continued presence of Steve Kean is having a major impact on loyal supporters’ desire and commitment to follow the team that they care passionately for. The utter contempt with which he treats the fans of this once proud family club is an affront to our dignity and an embarrassment to the club and he has succeeded in driving a wedge between the football club and the wider community that the fans of that football club represent.

As a first step in the process of re-establishing stability at Ewood Park, both in terms of the day-to-day management of the club and in terms of the performance on the playing side, and rebuilding the relationship between fans and the club, we ask that you and your fellow owners take immediate and decisive action to relieve Mr Steve Kean of any involvement, in any capacity, at Blackburn Rovers Football Club by terminating his employment.

We look forward to your response and remain, respectfully, the loyal supporters of your football club.

Wen Y Hu, BRFCS Editor
13 May 2012

In BRFCS Podcast 35, Wen Y Hu talks to chief reporter Kamy about the news of a potential bidder for Blackburn Rovers Football Club and a host of other club issues.

Club issues

• Paul Hunt letter and dismissal
• Potential buyer: Ilyas Khan
• Venky’s position on sale
• Steve Kean
• Potential job losses for Rovers staff
• Season ticket sales

Other matters in brief

• Chelsea match
• Academy
• Shirt sponsorship
• BRSIT public meeting

Subscribe to it in iTunes here. Don’t forget to rate us in iTunes and add a review.

If you are unable to subscribe to iTunes but would like to download the podcast, then you can do so through this link:

Podcast 35

A direct link to listen to and discuss the podcast is available through the Podcast 35 topic.

Blackburn Rovers Supporters Investment Trust (BRSIT) is to hold its first public meeting to discuss the way forward as it bids to take over the club from current owners Venky’s and place it in the hands of the fans. All supporters are invited to attend the meeting on Saturday, 26 May, at the Windsor Suite at King George’s Hall in Blackburn from 10am until noon.

Following on from its recent meeting behind closed doors on April 21, BRSIT is now in a position to bring its proposals to a wider audience and founders Wayne Wild and Daniel Grabko will be joined by Rovers legend and non-executive director Simon Garner to present the Supporters Investment Trust proposals and answer fans’ questions.

The fanshare initiative has already generated widespread interest and currently BRSIT has raised more than £1.7 million in the form of pledges from Rovers fans around the world. It is also working on a unique shareholder return scheme, the Rovers Club Cash incentive, which could reward fans investing in the Trust’s plan with what amounts to a free season ticket for the next 20 years.

Commenting on the Trust’s first public meeting, Wayne Wild said: “This is an ideal opportunity for supporters who may be undecided and sitting on the fence to get the full facts about what we are proposing and why we feel this is the way forward for our club. We believe our campaign has real impetus and that we will see more and more supporters joining the cause now they can see where the club will be next season and the challenges that it faces.

“We have already had the support of fans of Blackburn Rovers in all corners of the globe, who all want to see their club in their ownership. Our message to those who are undecided is come along to the meeting, listen and ask questions and join our fight for the club’s future.

“The passion and enthusiasm we have already seen for our campaign and the will that exists out there for it to succeed just highlights what Blackburn Rovers means to its community and why it should be owned by the supporters. Our aim is to build on that and our first open meeting is another step on that journey. Given our relegation and the state of the club at the moment, we believe the success of our campaign is even more vital for the future of our club.

“Whether you have already pledged your support or would like to find out more about our proposal, all are welcome to attend this open event.”

The campaign to bring Blackburn Rovers into community ownership also has support from local community leaders including MPs Jack Straw, Jake Berry and Graham Jones, Kate Hollern, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, and Sir Bill Taylor. A number of major employers in the East Lancashire area are also throwing their weight behind the Trust’s bid to secure the future of the club by putting it in the hands of the supporters and local community.

Wayne Wild added: “We need to keep the pledges coming in from supporters and the business community to show we are the most credible and attractive option for when the current owners decide they would like to sell the club. We are here to offer them a respectful and dignified exit strategy from their investment and, in the spirit of what is best for them and for Blackburn Rovers, we will keep asking for a dialogue with the owners or their representatives.”

Both Wayne Wild and Daniel Grabko have appeared on BRFCS podcasts to discuss the fanshare initiative. Listen to Podcast 27, Part 1, for an outline of the Trust’s initial aims and Podcast 32 for an interview with Wayne Wild about further developments. For further details on the BRSIT initiative, visit the Trust’s website at www.brsit.co.uk.

BRFCS understand that owners Venky’s are currently considering the future of manager Steve Kean, who is due to fly out to Pune for a Tuesday meeting with the Rao family after the final match of the season at Chelsea. It is understood that Kean has been putting forward a number of proposals to ensure that he remains in a position of power and influence at the club, including the installation of club’s PR agent Paul Agnew as CEO while Kean takes over as director of football.

It is understood that some members of the Rao family are still labouring under the misapprehension that it is currently only a small number of fans who believe that Steve Kean is detrimental to the club’s long-term future and a massive negative influence on fans’ support for the club and on season-ticket sales.

Aside from the abysmal record of Steve Kean as manager of Blackburn Rovers and the woeful playing performances by the team over the course of the last season and a half, BRFCS believe that the continued presence of Steve Kean at our football club is a major factor in the breakdown in trust between club and fans. We are therefore petitioning Blackburn Rovers chairwoman Mrs Desai, in the letter below, to take action with her fellow owners to remove Steve Kean from our club as a first step in helping to stabilise the club.

We are therefore asking all Rovers fans to show their support for this action by joining with us in this petition. Please add your REAL NAMES to the petition by adding a comment below. Note that this is an open petition and that the posts below are not associated in any way with the BRFCS forums. Anybody may join the petition without registering as a member.

Simply put your name in the Comment box below and hit the Post Comment button. Do not add any messages — if you wish to make such a comment, please visit our forums and join in the discussions there. Note that if you wish to add more than one name from your household, you should place these on a separate line and only with the express consent of the person(s) concerned. BRFCS will make a list of all those who join the petition and will send this to Mrs Desai directly.

Dear Mrs Desai,

We, the undersigned, would like to request that Venky’s, as owners and custodians of our historic football club, terminate the employment of Mr Steve Kean at Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect.

We, the supporters of Blackburn Rovers, have no faith whatsoever in the ability of Steve Kean to manage a football team nor be involved in the running of a professional football club. His record as a manager during his 18-month spell in charge of the club is among the worst in the twenty-year history of the Premier League and he is undoubtedly the worst and arguably the most unpopular manager in the entire 137-year history of our football club.

Notwithstanding relegation from the Premier League, the continued presence of Steve Kean is having a major impact on loyal supporters’ desire and commitment to follow the team that they care passionately for. The utter contempt with which he treats the fans of this once proud family club is an affront to our dignity and an embarrassment to the club and he has succeeded in driving a wedge between the football club and the wider community that the fans of that football club represent.

As a first step in the process of re-establishing stability at Ewood Park, both in terms of the day-to-day management of the club and in terms of the performance on the playing side, and rebuilding the relationship between fans and the club, we ask that you and your fellow owners take immediate and decisive action to relieve Mr Steve Kean of any involvement, in any capacity, at Blackburn Rovers Football Club by terminating his employment.

We look forward to your response and remain, respectfully, the loyal supporters of your football club.

Wen Y Hu, BRFCS Editor
13 May 2012

In BRFCS Podcast 34, Wen Y Hu is joined by chief reporter Kamy, assistant editor Eddie and forum member Bobby G to discuss the woeful performance at Spurs and look at the weekend’s key games involving QPR and Bolton ahead of the decisive game against Wigan Athletic on Monday. Also, there is discussion of the alleged altercations between players and manager Steve Kean and the misleading report about an intruder at the Brockhall training ground. The position of Venky’s with regard to the sale of the club and to their support of Steve Kean is considered and there is also brief comment on season ticket sales.

Our thanks to podcast producer J*B (Josh) for the production of this podcast.

Subscribe to it in iTunes here. Don’t forget to rate us in iTunes and add a review.

If you are unable to subscribe to iTunes but would like to download the podcast, then you can do so through this link:

Podcast 34

A direct link to listen to and discuss the podcast is available through the Podcast 34 topic.

BRFCS.com understands that reports in the local and national media that Steve Kean’s future is set to be discussed are true. Senior Venky’s sources have revealed that the owners have taken their full allocation for the Chelsea game with members of the family set to be at the game. Sources have revealed that talks will take place over the weekend and Kean’s future will be high on the agenda. The decision to sack or retain Steve Kean will be made by Mrs Desai. Thus far she has backed Steve Kean, despite being advised by club officials to sack him (as revealed in the leaked Paul Hunt letter). However, the club’s relegation from the Premier League might have caused her to have a rethink.

Sources have also revealed that the family watched the game against Wigan on Monday and that Mrs Desai is in “mourning” over Rovers’ relegation from the Premier League. However, despite relegation, sources have reiterated that the club is not for sale.

Extracts of a leaked letter published by Sporting Intelligence reveal the internal choas at Rovers.

An extraordinary letter written in late December by Blackburn Rovers’ deputy CEO Paul Hunt to the club’s owner, Anuradha Desai, has laid bare the crisis that has been gripping the club all season.

The 2,500-word document, dated 21 December 2011 and written just hours after Rovers had lost 2-1 at home to Bolton on 20 December, details financial problems then afflicting the club, hints at a massive rift between the owners and other executives over the future of manager Steve Kean, and implores Mrs Desai to allow people she had appointed — Hunt included — to run the club.

Blackburn have not appointed a CEO to replace John Williams and so Hunt has been in apparent de facto control at Blackburn since his own appointment last year. What the letter clearly shows, however, is that ultimately control has always rested in India.

Sporting Intelligence, which has authenticated the letter as genuine, has had sight of the letter and understands it is in circulation and is likely to be published in full imminently.

Hunt begins by writing: “I have been your senior officer at the club for six months now and I feel that I must now write to you to ask you to make some significant changes to save the club, perhaps from relegation but also perhaps from administration.

“In 20 years of the Premier League there has been only one side that was bottom of the league at Christmas that has survived relegation at the end of the season.

“With the bank closing in, I fear that they will look to foreclose and have the potential to implement financial restrictions upon the club that could (as a worst-case scenario) enforce administration.

“I have kept quiet for a time now out of utmost respect and I trust that you realise that I am only emailing you now as I want what is only the best for Blackburn Rovers and the owners.

“I am very much of the opinion that we can save the club and I have always been very supportive and positive towards the owners. Therefore I hope you know that what I am saying is considered, honest, constructive and from the heart.

“I ask that we instigate all the changes below in this 10 point plan.”

Regular readers of Sporting Intelligence will know many of the key developments in Blackburn’s story under Venky’s. (AN ARCHIVE OF STORIES IS LINKED HERE.)

Paul Hunt’s 10-point plan to save Blackburn appears to be the last throw of the dice by an executive deeply concerned about turning around a troubled ship.

Unfortunately for fans — who saw their club’s relegation confirmed last night — he was ignored.

The 10-point plan seeks clarity on Hunt’s own position, and then moves on to the issue of “Owners to invest in the club”.

That section says: “As you are aware Barclays have asked for the owners to put £10m into the business. This needs to happen and I am confident that this could only be a loan as we would increase the value of the club significantly. With all the speculation in the press the playing staff value and overall club value is depreciating on a daily basis.

“By putting an end to this the owners would be protecting their investment, putting their trust in the executive team and the club. The position with the finances is a cause for grave concern.

“Auditors KPMG have put as many obstacles as they can in the way of signing off the accounts due to their concerns. We continue to try and work with Barclays but they are very quickly losing patience as we cannot give answers. We have been forced to agree to additional spending against our wishes (Christmas hampers, sponsoring the Princes Trust event etc) and I am fearful that the situation will only get worse.

“During January we need additional funding to pay wages etc.”

Point 3 of the 10-point plan is extraordinary and says Kean had not only lost the crowd but also the dressing room.

It says: “Publicly I have been asked to support the manager and I always have as I personally like Steve. I have supported him from the start and have been desperate for him to do well. However, I am now of the opinion that it isn’t working and he is ready to go.

“He has lost the crowd and as a result of this evening’s game has lost the dressing room as well — the players no longer want to play for him. It is a shame and disappointing but we must act now to save the club. The board should be asked their opinion in who should be the new manager.”

Point four asks Mrs Desai to allow her executives at Ewood to run the club, point five calls for a more cohesive PR strategy, point six calls for more trips by Ewood executives to meet the stayaway owners, point seven asks the owners to visit the club more and point eight asks for the Ewood executives to hire and fire — rather than Mrs Desai making these decisions.

Point nine says: “We are losing fans/customers at an alarming rate. I am very concerned that fans are voting with their feet and not attending, not purchasing and not engaging with the club.

“Research shows that only 5% of ex season ticket holders will ever return. We are losing sponsors and suppliers. I am concerned we will lose Umbro if we continue to manufacture Rovers shirts in India for the RoverStar programme. Their contract specifically disallows this and we are putting at risk £800k of annual revenue.

“The Blackburn Rovers and Venky’s brands are both suffering terribly. Whilst there are negative goings on such as protests, complaints, media stories, unhappy fans etc, then both brands are losing brand equity and consequently, losing value.

“I am also concerned that the Premier League will intervene soon as they may take the view that their brand is being tarnished by association too. It is all reparable of course but we must start to act now by building bridges with fans and the media as above.”

The letter finishes with point 10, essentially a drawn-out message of regret that the owners have not allowed the club to be run properly from Blackburn. It ends: “I look forward to hearing your thoughts. With very best wishes for a bright future, Paul.”

Join in the discussion on the forum here.

The chickens finally came home to roost, in more ways than one, on a wet and dismal Bank Holiday Monday at Ewood Park. What a stark contrast to that wonderful Victory at Ewood night on a Bank Holiday Monday in May 1995 when the heroics of Tim Flowers and a goal from Alan Shearer sent the Ewood faithful home happily singing songs of celebration long into the night. The Ewood faithful were again in full voice throughout the 90 minutes last night but this time it was songs of vitriolic hatred towards the clueless owners and manager which filled the air. The absentee owners and their puppet in the dugout have brought the club to its knees within eighteen short months and the Ewood faithful turned up in force to vent their spleen at those they hold responsible for the destruction of their club. Rarely has the ground resonated to the sound of all four stands singing in unison and demanding the removal of the manager and owners.

Once again, Madam Desai and the Brothers Grimm were nowhere to be seen as the club’s eleven-year tenure in the Premier League came to an end. Over the past few months they have no doubt sat in the splendour of their complex in Pune, regaling their friends with tales about owning India’s Premiership club and outlining their strategy for Champions League football, whilst the reality on the ground in Blackburn has been completely different. A successful, well-run club brought to its knees by incompetent owners and a clueless manager.

The game itself was, like much of the season, something of an irrelevance. Wigan, under the astute ownership of Dave Whelan and inspirational management of Roberto Martinez, arrived at Ewood in search of the win that would secure their Premier League status for another season. Although they didn’t get the winning goal until late in the game, the truth is that they dominated much of the play and created the better chances as the Rovers, once again, proved lax in defence, lacklustre in midfield and timid in attack.

Steve Kean, in a last desperate throw of the dice, opted for a 4-3-3 formation which proved no more successful than any of the other formations which have been tried with equal ineptness during the course of the season. Sadly, formations are an irrelevance if the quality of the players on view is as poor as the squad that has been assembled by Desai and Kean. Make no mistake, these players would struggle in the Championship and have been completely out of their depth in the Premier League.

In his post-match interviews Kean complained about the lack of experienced players in the squad and the need to bring in such experience in the summer. However, it must be remembered that this was the manager, be it on the owners’ behest or not, who was happy to show the door to El-Hadji Diouf, Brett Emerton, Jason Roberts, Keith Andrews, Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba. This was the manager who opted to completely ignore Michel Salgado for over half a season and the same manager who kept Gael Givet out of the team for long periods at a crucial time in the season.

Kean bleated on about having too many young players in the team but, then again, who was the manager who replaced experienced players with inexperienced players? The finger of blame points to Kean and Desai.

Considering it was a must-win game, the Rovers proved rather conservative in terms of posing an attacking threat during the first half. Despite playing three up front, with Anthony Modeste operating on the right, Junior Hoilett on the left and Yakubu through the middle, the Rovers simply couldn’t develop any sort of attacking rhythm.

With the cries of “Kean out”, “Venky’s out” and “There’s only one Jack Walker” growing ever louder, the players looked completely bereft of ideas or inspiration. Victor Moses ought to have given the visitors the lead when he met a superb cross from Franco Di Santo, but his header went across goal instead of into the net.

Just before the break David Dunn, again the one player who seemed totally committed to the cause, limped off to be replaced by Marcus Olsson — quite why Steven Nzonzi wasn’t introduced is another of the strange mysteries that surround the decision-making process of Steve Kean. Gael Givet was withdrawn at half-time due to injury and was replaced by Radosav Petrovic, which resulted in another reshuffle at the back.

Although the Rovers forced a couple of early corners, they rarely looked like making the breakthrough. There were a couple of goalmouth scrambles, but it seemed more a case of hope than expectation. At the other end the visitors continued to spurn opportunities to take the lead with Moses firing over the bar after being set up by Di Santo.

The Rovers had a decent claim for a penalty on 59 minutes when Emmerson Boyce appeared to kick Hoilett in attempting to clear the ball in a goalmouth scramble. However, Mark Clattenburg was unmoved and even the Ewood faithful only made half-hearted appeals.

Paul Robinson was called into action to make an excellent double save from Moses and James McCarthy, but he was helpless when Shaun Maloney squandered a glorious opportunity by heading over with the goal at his mercy. However, the visitors were not to be denied and with three minutes remaining they scored the goal that ensured their safety whilst condemning the Rovers to relegation. The ball was floated into the Rovers’ penalty area and whilst Petrovic stood and watched, Alcaraz rose above him and headed into the net despite a valiant attempt by Robinson to keep the ball out.

The cries of protest grew ever louder as the Rovers’ Premier League life ebbed away in the pouring rain.

In a game that had to be won there were two memorable moments. In the first half play had to be stopped because of a chicken walking around the penalty area in front of the Darwen End. Clearly, intent on trying to prevent banners getting into the ground, an aim in which the security proved every bit as inept as the rest of the management at Ewood Park, they overlooked the fact that a fan would enter the ground with a chicken tucked under his arm!

The other moment that will live in the memory is of the supporter marching over to Kean early in the second half and throwing his season ticket at him. It was a gesture that brought the fan in question a standing ovation from the rest of Ewood Park as he was led away by the police.

The fact that the two highlights had nothing to do with the game itself says it all really.

As for the players, Paul Robinson, Gael Givet and David Dunn gave everything they had as usual.

In defence, Bradley Orr was more effective giving interviews supporting the manager than stopping the Wigan attack. However, he did front up that the players had not been good enough and fair play to him for that admission. Scott Dann again looked grossly overrated at £6.5 million and one cannot believe than any other club is going to take him off our hands at anywhere near that valuation.

Sadly, Martin Olsson looks destined for the exit door while one suspects that brother Marcus is likely to still be around next season. Martin has too bright a future ahead of him to languish for any length of time outside of the top flight. Marcus, who has struggled to adjust to Premier League football, may well be more effective in the Championship.

In midfield, the lack of genuine quality has been there for all to see. Dunny remains our most creative player but is surely coming to the end of his career. Pedersen appears to be going through the motions and one suspects he has graced Ewood Park for the final time. Petrovic continues to struggle, while the fact that Steven Nzonzi has fallen out of favour points to his likely departure in the summer. In attack, Modeste will return to France, and Yakubu and Hoilett will both find new employers in the summer.

Eleven years of Premier League football has come to an end and the work of Jack Walker and the Walker Trust has been destroyed in eighteen months by owners who have never shown the slightest interest in the club or the town of Blackburn.

Who knows what the future holds? But if the future of Blackburn Rovers remains in the hands of Desai and Kean, the future is indeed bleak. The Rao family and their chosen manager have shown themselves to be inadequate at every level over the past eighteen months. The greatest irony of all was on the day that Sam Allardyce took West Ham United into the play-off final, Steve Kean took the Rovers into the Championship. Allardyce, the man who turned Ewood into a fortress and achieved a comfortable tenth place, was deemed not good enough for Desai, whilst Kean, the man who has overseen twelve home defeats this season and taken the club down, remains her favoured son. No wonder thousands are now turning their backs on the Venky’s Circus at Ewood Park.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Bradley Orr (David Goodwillie 80), Scott Dann, Gael Givet (Radosav Petrovic 86), Martin Olsson; Jason Lowe, David Dunn (Marcus Olsson 44), Morten Gamst Pedersen; Anthony Modeste, Yakubu, David “Junior” Hoilett
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), Steven Nzonzi, Mauro Formica, Ruben Rochina
Manager: Steve Kean

Wigan Athletic

Ali Al Habsi; Antolin Alcaraz, Gary Caldwell, Maynor Figueroa; Emmerson Boyce, James McCarthy, James McArthur, Jean Beausejour; Victor Moses, Franco Di Santo (Conor Sammon 85), Shaun Maloney
Subs not used: Mike Pollitt (gk), Albert Crusat, Ben Watson, Jordi Gomez, Hugo Rodallega, Mohamed Diame
Manager: Roberto Martinez

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – Radosav Petrovic, Morten Gamst Pedersen

Wigan Athletic – Victor Moses

Join in the discussion on the forum here.

In BRFCS Podcast 33, Wen Y Hu is joined by assistant editor Eddie and forum members philipl and brfcrule1 (Savio) to discuss the Swansea City and Norwich City matches, relegation, reported player unrest and the youth team’s first-leg defeat to Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final.

Our thanks to Glenn for the production of this podcast, whose publication has been delayed due to several technical difficulties experienced during recording. Our apologies for the delay.

Subscribe to it in iTunes here. Don’t forget to rate us in iTunes and add a review.

If you are unable to subscribe to iTunes but would like to download the podcast, then you can do so through this link:

Podcast 33

A direct link to listen to and discuss the podcast is available through the Podcast 33 topic.

Reports in the national press are alleging that Venky’s have cleared their reported £20 million debt with Barclays and terminated their banking arrangement with the bank, with Rovers’ banking now being handled by the State Bank of India.

Last month reports emerged that stewards employed by Rovers had received their wages from an Indian bank and that there had been a slight delay in them getting their wages due to the swap-over in banking arrangements. Sources have indicated that Venky’s will now use the bank in India for all future Rovers-related banking, and this will include any loan/overdraft arrangements. BRFCS.com talked to Mumbai-based stockbroker Manoj Shastari, who has told us that “Venky’s have an established relationship with the State Bank of India and it is highly likely that the bank would insist any borrowing should be secured against Venky’s India assests rather than Venky’s London Limited assets”.

Senior Venky’s sources have also dismissed recent press reports that suggested that they were looking to sell the club.

On the pitch Rovers continue their battle for Premier League survival on Monday against Wigan Athletic. A defeat on Monday could confirm relegation if either Bolton or QPR pick up a point in their games against West Brom and Stoke respectively.

Rovers have named the same team as the one that beat Norwich 2-0 last Saturday for today’s match against Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur

Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Bale, Lennon, Modric, Sandro, Rose, Van der Vaart, Adebayor
Substitutes: Cudicini, King, Nelsen, Livermore, Saha, Giovani, Defoe

Blackburn Rovers

Robinson, Orr, Givet, Dann, Marcus Olsson, Hoilett, Lowe, Formica, Dunn, Pedersen, Yakubu
Substitutes: Bunn, Martin Olsson, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Modeste, Rochina, Goodwillie

At BRSIT’s first Q&A meeting held at Whitehall Country Club in Darwen last Saturday, newly appointed non-executive director and Rovers legend Simon Garner spoke to the invited audience of local business and community leaders, Rovers supporters groups, ordinary fans and the media.

A two-hour presentation by BRSIT founder Wayne Wild of club sponsors Darwen-based WEC Ltd outlined the Trust’s vision and plans, which Mr Wild also discussed in interview with BRFCS in this week’s podcast. As the first ex-Blackburn Rovers player to pledge his support to the Trust’s fanshare option initiative, Simon Garner was asked to explain why he had committed himself to the community takeover bid:

“I got involved because I am scared of which way the club’s going.

“I am now a fan of Blackburn Rovers and always have been since I left the club. And I don’t want to see it disappear. And I think there’s a grave danger of that happening. So, something’s got to be done to save the club, I think.

“I just want to save the football club and I think Wayne’s come up with a good proposal how to do it and try and take it forward.

“At the end of the day something needs to be done about it and that’s why I’ve agreed to come on board and I am committed to it, full stop.”

The Rovers legend’s backing of the initiative has given a significant boost to the Trust’s profile. Having broken through the £1m mark prior to last Saturday’s meeting, Mr Wild announced on the podcast earlier this week that pledges amounted to over £1.1m. Pledges from supporters are continuing to come in and the figure currently stands at £1,257,450. The full video of Simon Garner’s speech is available for viewing on the BRSIT website, which also carries details of how to make a pledge and how to get involved with the Trust.

In BRFCS Podcast 32, BRFCS editor Wen Y Hu interviews Wayne Wild, the driving force behind the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Investment Trust. Previously in Podcast 27, Part 1, Wayne Wild and Daniel Grabko talked about the setting up of the Trust and in this podcast Wayne brings us up to date with the latest developments in the BRSIT fanshare option initiative.

Our thanks to podcast producer J*B (Josh) for the production of this podcast.

Subscribe to it in iTunes here. Don’t forget to rate us in iTunes and add a review.

If you are unable to subscribe to iTunes but would like to download the podcast, then you can do so through this link:

Podcast 32

A direct link to listen to and discuss the podcast is available through the Podcast 32 topic.

Victories at Ewood Park, once proudly known as a fortress, have become as rare as hen’s teeth since the arrival of our poultry experts from India and their favoured Glaswegian son. With eleven defeats already in the bag, a win over Norwich City ought to have been cause for celebration and yet I left Ewood Park in deflated mood. Indeed, my mood was even gloomier a couple of hours later with news that QPR had enjoyed another win, under former Ewood favourite Mark Hughes, and were surely destined to win the battle for survival.

On the day, the Rovers played well. Unlike the abject surrender at the Liberty Stadium last week, the players rose to the challenge and kept their Premier League status alive for at least another week. The restoration of Gael Givet was greeted with universal approval and there is no doubt that Scott Dann and the defence as a whole benefited from the return of the French warrior. However, the sight of Givet’s heroic defending probably explained my mood at the end of the match. If only we had utilised the squad properly all season, we might well have avoided the fate that now surely awaits us in the next couple of weeks.

Instead, the owners and their puppet in the dugout have embarked upon a cost-cutting exercise that has seen players ostracised, the services of experienced players dispensed with at the drop of a hat, an influx of mediocrity that, for the most part, even Kean seems too embarrassed to select and the continual attempts to force square pegs into round holes with all too predictable consequences. Ultimately a Premier League existence that has been nurtured so carefully for so long has been frittered away so easily by people who have no feeling or understanding of the club and the community it serves. It’s the sheer folly of the ownership and team management that makes me weep in despair and the realisation that the past twenty years have been undone at a stroke by a family in India who would appear to have no love for the club which we hold so dear.

This was a must-win game and win it we did against a Norwich side that appears to be finally hitting the wall that the majority of newly promoted clubs hit at some point. Fortunately, for both Norwich and Swansea, they have accumulated sufficient points to be clear of the relegation battle and now have the luxury of looking forward to a second season of top-flight football.

With Givet restored to the defence, the Rovers had a more solid look about them and it was noticeable how much more comfortable Dann looked with the Frenchman alongside him. With Bradley Orr at right-back, Jason Lowe moved into the midfield slot vacated by Steven Nzonzi. Kean explained that the youngster had been rested, but there were strong rumours pre-match of a training ground incident with a member of the coaching staff — not the manager I hasten to add — that might also have explained his absence.

Norwich started brightly and might well have taken an early lead but for James Vaughan missing his kick in front of goal. Fortunately, the Rovers gradually gained a foothold in the game and started to make inroads into the visiting defence. Dann came near to opening the scoring with a flicked header from a cross by David Dunn, but the visitors also came close to finding the net when Jonathan Howson struck a fierce long-range effort that Paul Robinson did well to tip over the bar. Howson had been able to run some distance unchallenged before getting in his shot as the Rovers midfield went missing once again.

The Rovers responded with a brilliant piece of athleticism by Yakubu when Junior Hoilett’s cross was nodded down to him by Morten Gamst Pedersen at the back post. The former Everton striker, with his back to goal, acrobatically managed a back somersault that saw him connect with both feet and send the ball goalwards with the ‘keeper completely wrong-footed. Unfortunately, this superb piece of opportunism went unrewarded as the ball struck the post and rebounded to safety.

However, the Rovers were not to be denied and on 41 minutes the breakthrough came thanks to a very good piece of play down the left wing. The ball was played down to Yakubu, who broke down the flank but, with nobody in the middle, was forced to hold the ball up before laying it back into the path of Pedersen. The Norwegian international swept over a pin-point cross to the opposite side of the area where Mauro Formica raced in and volleyed the ball into the back of the net. It was a super piece of football and brought back memories of when Pedersen used to deliver crosses like this on a regular basis.

Four minutes after the break the Rovers doubled their lead thanks to a wonderful piece of individualism by Hoilett. The young Canadian collected the ball on the left touchline, jinked his way inside and then curled a 25-yard right-footed effort past John Ruddy into the top corner of the net. It was a brilliant goal which only Hoilett of the present squad is capable of producing.

On 54 minutes Hoilett almost set up his fellow striker, but Yakubu was unable to reach the ball as it curled away from him. Once again the move had been begun by a break down the left with Hoilett racing clear before delivering his cross.

Both managers used their full complement of substitutes with Dunn, Hoilett and Yakubu all being withdrawn as a precaution due to previous injuries.

Norwich fashioned a few late scares but, in truth, looked like a side that was coming to the end of a long, hard season. They have accomplished what they set out to do, which was to retain Premier League status, and they have done it with ease. For the Rovers these three points just about keep them in the relegation battle, but QPR’s win over Spurs means that unless our rivals lose every match, we will need another six or seven points to avoid the drop.

Givet was named “Man of the Match” and Hoilett again demonstrated what a hole he is going to leave in the squad when he departs in the summer. Pedersen was much improved in midfield, while Orr and Dann gave better performances in defence. The midfield continues to be a problem with David Dunn’s ageing legs having to be used sparingly, while Jason Lowe again looked completely out of sorts in the centre of the park. Radosav Petrovic gave an impressive cameo during the short time he was on and looked far more impressive than Lowe had done. However, neither looks as impressive as an on-form Nzonzi.

We must now hope that Bolton lose at Villa Park in midweek and that the Rovers can return from White Hart Lane with at least a point and hopefully more. The sad fact is that survival is no longer in the club’s own hands and we are relying on others to get us out of the mess that Venky’s and Kean have put us in.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Bradley Orr, Scott Dann, Gael Givet, Marcus Olsson; Mauro Formica, David Dunn (Martin Olsson 62), Jason Lowe, Morten Gamst Pedersen; David “Junior” Hoilett (Radosav Petrovic 82), Yakubu (Anthony Modeste 76)
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), Steven Nzonzi, Ruben Rochina, David Goodwillie
Manager: Steve Kean

Norwich City

John Ruddy; Russell Martin, Ryan Bennett, Elliott Ward, Adam Drury; Elliott Bennett, Jonathan Howson, Andrew Surman, Wesley Hoolahan (Anthony Pilkington 59); James Vaughan (Steve Morison 59), Grant Holt (Aaron Wilbraham 66)
Subs not used: Jed Steer (gk), David Fox, Bradley Johnson, Kyle Naughton
Manager: Paul Lambert

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – David Dunn

Norwich City – Jonathan Howson

Join in the discussion on the forum here.

Gael Givet returns to the side for this crucial home game against Norwich City, while Steven Nzonzi is on the bench.

Blackburn Rovers

Robinson, Orr, Givet, Dann, Marcus Olsson, Formica, Lowe, Pedersen, Dunn, Hoilett, Yakubu
Substitutes: Kean, Martin Olsson, Petrovic, Modeste, Rochina, Goodwillie

Norwich City

Ruddy, Martin, Ryan Bennett, Ward, Drury, Surman, Hoolahan, Elliott Bennett, Howson, Holt, Vaughan
Substitutes: Steer, Naughton, Johnson, Pilkington, Fox, Morison, Wilbraham

Since our back-to-back victories over Wolves and Sunderland and the launch of the “Early Bird” scheme to entice fans to renew their season tickets before the end of the season, we have played five and lost five. In those five games we have scored three goals and conceded thirteen. If Paul Hunt can put a positive spin on that to shift season tickets, he’s a better man than I. Quite simply, under the inept ownership of Venky’s a once proud club has become a national laughing stock and at Swansea even the travelling fans finally got the joke and joined in the mockery of a second-rate manager and third-rate players.

Once again Gael Givet was not in the squad, although he did get on the pitch during the half-time interval to share a laugh and a joke with the substitutes as they partook in “a half-hearted kick-about” masquerading as a “thoroughly professional warming-up session”. One assumes that sending Givet out to warm up, despite not being named on the bench, was Kean’s attempt to have his own little joke at the expense of those who had travelled down from Lancashire to witness this latest debacle.

Swansea opened the scoring after 37 minutes and it’s something of a mystery why they took so long to make the breakthrough. After the opening couple of minutes, when the Rovers actually suggested they might make a game of it, the home side took control and completely dominated the rest of the match.

The opening goal came about when the Rovers again failed to clear their lines and Gylfi Sigurdsson found himself with time and space on the edge of the area to clip a pin-point effort over the head of Robinson and into the back of the net. The Rovers ‘keeper had wandered no more than a yard or so off his line, but it was sufficient for him to be unable to get back and attempt any sort of save. Sigurdsson had looked a threat from the start, but, of course, the Rovers opted against doing anything as mundane as actually marking him.

The second goal, on 43 minutes, was another personal nightmare for Scott Dann, who has endured a torrid time during his first season with the club. His attempts to clear a dangerous situation ended with him sending the ball straight to Scott Sinclair, who looked as if he might score himself before laying the ball off for Nathan Dyer to sweep the ball past Robinson from about eight yards.

The Rovers left the field at half-time to a chorus of boos from the travelling support, who then spent the rest of the match chanting “Steve Kean and Venky’s are taking us down”. It was, perhaps, the most succinct comment that anyone could make about the mess that the club now finds itself in.

Grant Hanley, who had been injured just on half-time, didn’t reappear for the second half as Kean was forced to rearrange his side with Jason Lowe, who had started at left-back, moving to the right, Orr dropping into the centre and Marcus Olsson filling in at left-back. Mauro Formica replaced Hanley to try to bolster a faltering midfield. Early in the second half, injuries led to the withdrawal of Junior Hoilett and Yakubu, but the introduction of Anthony Modeste and David Goodwillie did little to improve matters.

The game was done and dusted after 63 minutes when Sinclair waltzed around three defenders before giving Sigurdsson the opportunity to shoot for goal. His shot struck the post and then rebounded against the luckless Dann and into the net.

The Rovers huffed and puffed, but apart from a couple of efforts from David Dunn, one of which struck a post, they did little to suggest that they were up for the fight. The travelling support merely joined in with the home fans in pouring scorn on those wearing the yellow shirts. There is now a general acceptance that the Rovers are coming to the end of their period of rubbing shoulders with the elite of English football. The Championship and possibly worse beckons as Venky’s are proving that whatever Jack and the Trust had built over 20 years, they could destroy in less than 20 months.

While David Dunn may no longer be the quickest or fittest in the squad, he is one player who genuinely plays with pride and passion and the only one who left the Liberty Stadium with his head held high. Robinson made three or four decent saves but seemed badly positioned for the opening goal. However, like Dunn, there is a feeling that he cares and is clearly unhappy with the present plight of the club. Having said that, does anybody seriously believe that Robinson will hang around to sample Championship football?

As for the rest, what can one say? Reports suggest that Givet refused to play because his “head wasn’t right”. One might ask what was the reason for the rest, Dunny and Robbo apart, for not playing?

Defensively the Rovers were, yet again, shambolic. Bradley Orr and Jason Lowe were both turned inside out by Swansea’s wide men and quite why Lowe was playing at left-back is a complete and utter mystery. Grant Hanley, before he was injured, and Scott Dann again proved that they are not a Premier League centre-back pairing and Dann seems to go from bad to worse as he struggles to find any sort of form.

Apart from Dunny, the midfield was appalling. I have been a great admirer of Steven Nzonzi, but I have now come to the conclusion that he needs to be left out. Yesterday he looked totally disinterested from the start, while Marcus Olsson is clearly out of his depth and Morten Gamst Pedersen again failed to have any impact on the game.

Up front, Junior Hoilett was very subdued as was Yakubu and one suspects that both started the game without being fully fit.

As for the manager, there is nothing left to be said. Defensively he has failed to sort out the problems that have plagued us since he took over. Michel Salgado was a convenient scapegoat for many to blame for the inadequacies displayed when defending down the flanks, but the truth of the matter is that no matter who was playing at full-back, they would struggle with the way in which the Rovers defend. Wide players simply don’t track back and too many players aren’t prepared to do the donkey work in midfield. How we miss the likes of Robbie Savage, Jermaine Jones and, dare I say it, Aaron Mokoena. Our midfield is bereft of anyone who is prepared to tackle and attempt to win the ball and we don’t seem to have the energy levels to press the opposition.

With four games remaining, we are likely to need at least seven and possibly eight points to have any hope of survival. Having lost our previous five games, I suggest that not even the most optimistic of fans can believe that the club is destined for anywhere other than the Championship. Sadly, Blackburn Rovers has been destroyed by owners who are every bit as much out of their depth as the manager who they appointed and the players who they have bought.

Teams

Swansea City

Michel Vorm; Angel Rangel (Gary Monk 89), Ashley Williams, Steven Caulker, Neil Taylor; Leon Britton (Mark Gower 70), Joe Allen; Scott Sinclair, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Nathan Dyer; Danny Graham (Leroy Lita 85)
Subs not used: Gerhard Tremmel (gk), Josh McEachran, Wayne Routledge, Luke Moore
Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Bradley Orr, Scott Dann, Grant Hanley (Mauro Formica 46), Jason Lowe; Morten Gamst Pedersen, David Dunn, Steven Nzonzi, Marcus Olsson; David “Junior” Hoilett (Anthony Modeste 56); Yakubu (David Goodwillie 61)
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), Martin Olsson, Radosav Petrovic, Ruben Rochina
Manager: Steve Kean

Bookings

Swansea City – None

Blackburn Rovers – Junior Hoilett, Mauro Formica

Join in the discussion on the forum here.

Two goals in the space of six minutes have virtually killed off the game as Rovers are in serious trouble at the Liberty Stadium. The away side have allowed the Swans to retain possession and play in front of them and have been punished by a combination of excellent finishing and lacklustre defending.

Rovers had an early penalty shout when Yakubu went down in the box, but there appeared to be minimal contact and from that moment on Rovers have rarely posed a threat. Swansea had a penalty appeal of their own when Pedersen looked as if he had clipped Sigurdsson’s heels as the midfielder attempted to latch onto a low cross, but the Norwegian was given the benefit of the doubt when replays showed that he may well have made contact.

Swansea continued to control possession and it was Sigurdsson who gave them the lead when the midfielder calmly controlled a pass in the corner of the area before shifting the ball onto his left foot and curling an effort over Robinson and into the Rovers goal. The home side nearly doubled their lead moments later when Nzonzi’s sloppy pass was intercepted and Graham forced Robinson into a fine save. More poor defending eventually led to Swansea doubling their lead when Dann could neither control nor clear a pass into the box, with the ball eventually making its way to Dyer, whose sliced finish found the corner of the net.

Rovers make two changes from the side that lost to Liverpool in mid-week, with Pedersen and Lowe returning to the side at the expense of Martin Olsson and Formica.

Swansea City

Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Rangel, Britton, Sinclair, Dyer, Allen, Sigurdsson, Graham
Substitutes: Tremmel, Monk, Routledge, McEachran, Gower, Lita, Moore

Blackburn Rovers

Robinson, Orr, Dunn, Hanley, Marcus Olsson, Pedersen, Dunn, Nzonzi, Lowe, Hoilett, Yakubu
Substitutes: Bunn, Martin Olsson, Petrovic, Modeste, Rochina, Goodwillie

In BRFCS Podcast 31, Wen Y Hu is joined by chief reporter Kamy, assistant editor Eddie and forum member philipl to discuss the Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion matches, relegation, player issues, Wayne Wild’s appearance on Sky TV and the Rovers Youth second-leg victory over Burnley to take us through to the FA Youth Cup final.

Our thanks to podcast producer J*B (Josh) and to Glenn for the production of this podcast.

Subscribe to it in iTunes here. Don’t forget to rate us in iTunes and add a review.

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Podcast 31

A direct link to listen to and discuss the podcast is available through the Podcast 31 topic.

In 51 years of supporting Blackburn Rovers this is undoubtedly the lowest I have ever felt. The fact that the team is not very good — let’s be honest, it has been a complete and utter embarrassment at times — is neither here nor there. Goodness knows over the years we have witnessed some dreadful football at Ewood Park and still come back for more. Nor is it that the manager is completely out of his depth and proudly boasts the worst record of any manager in the entire history of the club. Once again, I have suffered poor managers before — Jim Iley anyone? — and we will undoubtedly suffer them again after the present incumbent has been shown the door. However, what makes the present situation so unique is the complete and utter lack of hope with regard to the future. We know that when relegation is finally confirmed it will be the end of the Rovers as a top-flight club for a generation or more. Indeed, one only has to look at our near neighbours at Deepdale, who suffered relegation from top-flight football in 1960 and have spent the past 50 years in the wilderness. Such a fate surely awaits the Rovers. Irreparable damage may well have been done by the time the present owners depart and, sadly, there appears to be no sign of them leaving anytime soon.

As I sat gathering my thoughts for this report, I tried to fathom how Desai and her clan could have allowed this to happen. Could a supposedly experienced and successful businesswoman really be so dense when it comes to trying to understand football? Could she really be that stupid to think that firing the previous manager and replacing him with Steve Kean was ever going to work? Having survived relegation on the last day of the previous season, did she really think that the present manager combined with a shoestring transfer budget was going to suddenly transform us into European Champions League challengers?

If Kean is a symptom of the problems that abound at Ewood Park, the root cause is surely Madam Desai. Together, the two of them have managed to destroy the remaining legacy of Jack Walker and for that the town and people of Blackburn will surely never forget or forgive them.

This game was, in many ways, a microcosm of our entire season. Incapable of defending, devoid of ideas in midfield and lacking any sort of threat in front of goal — a combination that has surely earmarked the Rovers for a place in the Championship next season.

This was not the Liverpool of old, this was an Anfield outfit that was in the midst of crisis and yet, with a seriously weakened team, they arrived at Ewood and raced into a two-goal lead within the opening sixteen minutes. Only when the visitors were reduced to ten men were the Rovers able to claw themselves back into the game, but once again suicidal defending ensured the points went to Merseyside and the Rovers remained anchored in the bottom three.

It was rather ironic that in the seventy-third minute Ruben Rochina should replace Mauro Formica, for these two players represent the birth of Venky’s Rovers. Bought last January amidst a fanfare of expectancy that they were to be the first building blocks of Venky’s charge for Europe, they have, instead, become symbols of the mediocrity that Desai and Kean have immersed themselves in. Neither player has made the slightest impact on the club, neither player was ever likely to be remotely good enough for the Premier League, neither player will be of much use in the Championship and, hopefully, one suspects that neither player will be here next season.

After the appalling performance at West Bromwich on Saturday, the manager decided to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, but the end result was just the same. Quite why Marcus Olsson was recalled whilst Gael Givet, undeniably the most effective defender left at the club, was left sitting on the bench is a mystery which only Kean can answer. However, the sight of Andy Carroll, the £35-million misfit who has struggled to make much impression at Anfield, winning every aerial battle against Grant Hanley and Scott Dann did little to reinforce the belief that Givet has been left out because of the form of the latter two. Indeed, Hanley and Dann have looked very poor in recent matches. Dann has struggled to find any sort of form all season, while Hanley has, in recent weeks, seemed to revert to the clumsy and crude central defender that one remembers so well from his days in the Academy. Quite how these two are keeping Givet on the bench is unfathomable but is probably the reason why the club is destined for relegation. Form it would appear is not the criterion for getting into the team anymore.

Watched by the Brothers Grimm, Balaji and Venkatesh Rao, the Rovers made the now-familiar sluggish start and paid for it by conceding two goals within the opening 16 minutes. With Jason Lowe and Morten Gamst Pedersen dropped to the bench, Kean recalled Mauro Formica and Marcus Olsson, while Liverpool made a host of changes with one eye firmly fixed on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final meeting with Everton.

However, despite the makeshift nature of the opposition the visitors had little difficulty in making an early breakthrough. Martin Skrtel struck a superb 50-yard pass out to the unmarked Craig Bellamy on the right near the halfway line. The former Rover raced down the wing before firing a low ball across the face of the goal for Maxi Rodriguez to rifle home on the far post. It was simplicity itself and three minutes later things went from bad to worse when the Rovers’ defence gifted the visitors a second goal. Jonjo Shelvey took the ball from David Dunn in the Liverpool half of the pitch and then set off towards the Rovers area. With the defence conspicuous by its absence, the Liverpool player struck a shot which Paul Robinson saved but couldn’t hold. Andy Carroll tried to force the ball home, but his attempts were blocked by Bradley Orr. Unfortunately, the ball fell to Maxi Rodriguez, who made no mistake from close range.

The Ewood faithful registered their disgust as loud boos rang around the ground while Kean, a bewildered and beleaguered figure, stood on the touchline looking on at the shambles that was unfolding before him.

With Carroll dominant in the air — both Hanley and Dann appeared to have decided to stand off and allow him to head the ball unchallenged — and Bellamy running the defence ragged with his energetic bursts down the wings, Liverpool ought to have been able to have coasted to victory at that point. Indeed, all seemed to be going well for the visitors until a back-pass by Jon Flanagan fell well short of Alexander Doni and as Junior Hoilett pounced on the ball, the Liverpool custodian hesitated and then came to meet Hoilett and sent him crashing to the ground. Mr. Taylor immediately awarded a penalty and showed Doni a red card. Brad Jones came on to replace the luckless Flanagan and Yakubu stepped up to take the penalty, but the normally reliable Nigerian completely mishit his kick and Jones had little difficulty in making the save. It was an embarrassingly weak effort and drew comparisons in the half-time discussions with the infamous “Coddington” penalties — it was that bad.

Fortunately, the Yak redeemed himself on 36 minutes when Dunn floated a free-kick into the Liverpool goalmouth and Yakubu headed home. The goal signalled the start of a recovery by the Rovers and a super cross from Martin Olsson ought to have been converted but wasn’t as Hanley was just inches away from meeting it.

At the start of the second half the Rovers took the game to Liverpool, but the lively Bellamy was always a threat on the break. However, having gifted the Rovers the opening goal, the visitors were in a charitable mood again when Brad Jones felled Yakubu and the Rovers were awarded a second penalty. The incident was pure comedy at its best and certainly befitting a place in the “Venky’s Comedy Dome”, otherwise known as Ewood Park. Jones tried to clear a back-pass but merely succeeded in striking Yakubu with the ball, which then looped up into the air. The ‘keeper had plenty of time to merely push the ball over the bar but, instead, panic set in and for some reason he flapped at the ball and as Yakubu moved in, he then opted to push the striker to the ground. The referee rightly awarded a penalty but decided against a red card, which it surely warranted, and instead simply booked the Australian ‘keeper.

Yakubu took the spot-kick and opted to hit it straight down the middle and was fortunate that Jones had decided to dive to his left, for if the ‘keeper hadn’t moved he would have comfortably collected the ball.

The Rovers huffed and puffed but never really created the clear-cut opportunities that might have brought a third goal. As the game moved into injury time, a point would have seen the Rovers climb two places in the league, but once again weak defending was to cost the Rovers dear. A free-kick by Daniel Agger deflected off the wall for a corner and although the Rovers cleared the initial danger, the ball was sent back into the area, where Agger nodded it into the path of Carroll and the striker powered his header into the back of the net. The Rovers appealed that Hanley had been fouled by Skrtel in the build-up, but the officials were unmoved.

The final whistle brought more boos from a rapidly emptying Ewood Park. Whilst it is still mathematically possible for the Rovers to escape relegation, one suspects that the majority of the fans have now accepted that the Rovers’ time as a top-flight club is likely to come to an end in the next few weeks. With only two home games remaining and three difficult away games still to play, it is now difficult to see how the club can get the points required to keep them in the Premier League.

When the clowns from Pune took over, they dismissed the previous manager because they wanted entertaining football at Ewood Park. Under Allardyce, fortress Ewood provided the points that took the club to a tenth-place finish. This season, under Venky’s and Kean, Ewood has produced just sixteen points from a possible fifty-one and eleven home defeats thus far is surely the reason why instead of visiting Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and the rest next season we will be travelling to the likes of Barnsley, Peterborough and Watford. Only Wolves have lost as many home games as the hapless Rovers, and Desai and her brothers have shown that the Premier League is no place for incompetence and that seems to be the one commodity which this family has in abundance.

Teams

Blackburn Rovers

Paul Robinson; Bradley Orr, Scott Dann, Grant Hanley, Martin Olsson; Mauro Formica (Ruben Rochina 73), David Dunn (Jason Lowe 75), Steven Nzonzi, Marcus Olsson; David “Junior” Hoilett; Yakubu
Subs not used: Jake Kean (gk), Gael Givet, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Radosav Petrovic, David Goodwillie
Manager: Steve Kean

Liverpool

Alexander Doni (sent off 26); Jon Flanagan (Brad Jones 26), Sebastian Coates, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson (Daniel Agger 53); Craig Bellamy, Jordan Henderson, Jay Spearing, Maxi Rodriguez (Sanchez Jose Enrique 78); Jonjo Shelvey; Andy Carroll
Subs not used: Jamie Carragher, Fabio Aurelio, Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez
Manager: Kenny Dalglish

Bookings

Blackburn Rovers – Bradley Orr, Junior Hoilett, Mauro Formica, Grant Hanley

Liverpool – Jon Flanagan, Maxi Rodriguez, Brad Jones, Craig Bellamy, Jordan Henderson

Sending off

Liverpool – Alexander Doni

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