http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburn_rovers/news/9944908.Kean_on_the_brink_at_Blackburn_Rovers/BLACKBURN Rovers manager Steve Kean was on the brink of the sack this evening.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands club owners Venky’s have been in talks about Kean’s future over the weekend after growing concerns about the team’s performances this season.
Friday night’s dismal 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough knocked Rovers off the top spot in the Championship, with Venky’s seriously considering relieving Kean of his managerial duties.
Co-owners Venkatesh and Balaji Rao are understood to have long wanted a new manager but it is now believed club matriarch Anuradha Desai is ready to give them the green light to execute the change.
Kean was expected to hold talks with Desai in an attempt to persuade her he is still the right man to take the club forward and back into the Premier League, but was not expected to be given a reprieve.
The Scot has been written off several times during his managerial tenure and Rovers fans will know nothing is certain until his dismissal is officially confirmed.
If Kean was dismissed, his assistant Eric Black is expected to be offered the caretaker manager role, and given an opportunity to prove himself.
Global advisor Shebby Singh was spotted at White Hart Lane yesterday, for Tottenham’s Premier League visit of QPR, with Rovers’ 1995 Premier League winning skipper Tim Sherwood also believed to be in Venky’s minds for a potential future coaching role.
The owners and Rovers officials were remaining tight lipped today as talks continued about Kean’s future.
This is not the first time Kean has been facing the sack, with him having survived numerous crisis moments during his disastrous 21-month regime.
He was given a stay of execution during summer talks in India, despite heavy pressure being put on chief decision maker Desai from large sections of the club’s hierarchy.
He has also survived an almost constant barrage of abuse from angry Rovers fans, who have watched him oversee the club’s drop out of the Premier League.
Venky’s are understood to be alarmed by dwindling attendances at Ewood Park this season and fear this won’t improve with Kean as manager.
They have also taken a close interest in the team’s start to the season and have been far from impressed by performances, despite picking up results.
Kean was surprisingly appointed Rovers boss in December 2010 after Sam Allardyce was inexplicably sacked by Venky’s with Rovers sitting in mid table safety.
Rovers survived relegation on the final day of the season, following a poor run of results, but their downfall was sealed 12 months later as Venky’s kept faith with Kean.
Large sections of Rovers supporters have protested against Kean for more than a year, with many insisting they won’t return to Ewood until he departs.
Today is the day!!!!
BBC Sport now reporting it as well!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19696740
