Venky's ponder options as Indian media turns spotlight on Blackburn
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By Nick Harris SJA Internet Sports Writer of the Year 14 May 2012 As Blackburn's manager Steve Kean prepares to leave for India on Tuesday evening for talks with the club's owners on Wednesday, a critical difference of opinion over his fate persists; on one side are senior club officials at Ewood Park and at Venky's HQ in Pune, and on the other side is the Rao family matriarch, Anuradha Desai. The majority are believed to want change in the manager's position, as they have since early in the 2011-12 season, while Mrs Desai has steadfastly stood by a man she described as 'unsackable' when initially giving him the job on a permanent basis in January 2011. The next 48 hours will be pivotal for the future of the club, just relegated from the Premier League. With Venky's coming under increasing media scrutiny in India for the Ewood debacle, it is thought there remains an outside chance that Mrs Desai might still reconsider her position on Kean. A 'Kean Out' petition, signed by more than 5,000 fans in the past few days, will also help to focus Mrs Desai's mind when delivered today, although she has remained impervious to widespread supporter concerns for months. Kean himself remains convinced he will be Blackburn's manager as they enter the Championship. He has declined to comment on reports that he will go to India and recommend that Blackburn's press officer Paul Agnew - a key ally of his at Ewood - should become the club's CEO.
Venky's ponder options as Indian media turns spotlight on Blackburn
Venky's ponder options as Indian media turns…
Venky's ponder options as Indian media turns spotlight on Blackburn
By Nick Harris SJA Internet Sports Writer of the Year 14 May 2012 As Blackburn's manager Steve Kean prepares to leave for India on Tuesday evening for talks with the club's owners on Wednesday, a critical difference of opinion over his fate persists; on one side are senior club officials at Ewood Park and at Venky's HQ in Pune, and on the other side is the Rao family matriarch, Anuradha Desai. The majority are believed to want change in the manager's position, as they have since early in the 2011-12 season, while Mrs Desai has steadfastly stood by a man she described as 'unsackable' when initially giving him the job on a permanent basis in January 2011. The next 48 hours will be pivotal for the future of the club, just relegated from the Premier League. With Venky's coming under increasing media scrutiny in India for the Ewood debacle, it is thought there remains an outside chance that Mrs Desai might still reconsider her position on Kean. A 'Kean Out' petition, signed by more than 5,000 fans in the past few days, will also help to focus Mrs Desai's mind when delivered today, although she has remained impervious to widespread supporter concerns for months. Kean himself remains convinced he will be Blackburn's manager as they enter the Championship. He has declined to comment on reports that he will go to India and recommend that Blackburn's press officer Paul Agnew - a key ally of his at Ewood - should become the club's CEO.