BLACKBURN Rovers’ controversial owners have been urged to sell up by the club’s official supporters’ trust.

The Rovers Trust said the club, bottom of the Championship, had become a ‘toxic’ brand for Indian owners Venky’s.

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And they urged Venky’s to act amid mounting concern among fans over the future of the club, including growing anger on social media over the way Rovers is being run, a poor start to the season and falling attendances.

The supporters organisation was backed by a number of prominent figures as attendances at Ewood Park hit record lows.

Tuesday’s clash with Crewe Alexandra, which Rovers won 4-3 after extra-time, attracted 3,448 supporters – the lowest home crowd for a league, FA Cup or League Cup match for 30 years.

And Saturday’s encounter with Burton Albion, which Rovers drew 2-2, was watched by 10,356 fans, the lowest league attendance since November 1991.

Wayne Wild, chairman of the Rovers Trust, said: “We are calling on the owners to put Blackburn Rovers up for sale in a professional and public way that will encourage people to think about possible investment in the club.

“We know there are people out there who are definitely interested and the time is right.

“Blackburn Rovers has become a toxic brand for Venky’s, the present situation is clearly not working and they constantly have to fund losses.”

Trust officials said they approached Venky’s, seeking a constructive dialogue, in 2011 and have yet to receive a response.

Mr Wild added: “We first made our request to talk to the owners, to discuss all the issues that concern supporters, almost five years ago. At that time Blackburn Rovers was a Premier League club.

“Today, although it is early in the season, we are already at the bottom of the Championship and the financial situation looks increasingly alarming. It is time for a change.”

The trust has acted in the wake of captain Grant Hanley’s sale to Newcastle United and the lack of investment in the squad.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said: “It is time for the Venky’s to invest or sell up. At the moment it appears that they are just asset-stripping. Nothing is being brought into the club and our best players, like Grant Hanley, are being sold.

“The team reflects the fact that Venky’s appear to have given up on Blackburn Rovers and it’s time for new owners to come in, with new ideas and new money, to get the club back where it belongs, in the Premier League.”

Club legend Simon Garner said: “It’s not just the Trust, Venky’s don’t communicate with the fans at all.

“You don’t know whether they are selling off players to pay off the debt because they just don’t talk to the supporters.

“If they are not prepared to invest more in the football club then they should sell up. The fans want to see the club making progress, especially with what is happening up the road with Burnley.”

Trust leaders insist they are still committed to securing a stake in Rovers - either in whole or in part - and are prepared to work with other interested parties to promote the club’s wellbeing on and off the field.

Last night a Blackburn Rovers spokesman said: “This statement is directed towards the owners so the club will not be commenting on such matters at this time.”

No-one from Venky’s was available for comment.