BLACKBURN Rovers yesterday said they were not surprised to hear the news that manager Michael Appleton had been sacked.

Many supporters were pleased to see the 37-year-old, who had been in charge for just 15 games, relieved of his duties after just four wins and a string of poor performances.

But a large number blamed Venky’s for the club’s perilous position, with Rovers hovering just four points above the Championship relegation zone.

James Maynard, 61, of Blackburn, said: “I think it is the right decision. He hasn’t done well enough since he came in.

“We need to bring in a decent manager this time instead of taking a gamble.”

Mr Maynard’s wife, June, 57, said: “If we don’t stay up then we have got to blame Venky’s. They just don’t seem to know what they are doing.”

Twenty-nine-year-old Mark Andrews, of Rishton, said: “I was not surprised when I heard about the sacking.

“We need someone bigger than Michael Appleton. But I don’t think Venky’s have any clue what they are doing.”

Meanwhile John Clough, 58, of Harle Syke, Burnley - originally from Darwen - said: “It is an absolute shambles at the moment. The players mustn’t have a clue what is going on. It must be some kind of record to have six managers in one season.”

Student Hammas Khan, 17, of Blackburn, said it was the right decision. He said: “Appleton deserved to go as the results had not been good enough. But I think Venky’s are to blame for the poor form as well.”

Fifty-three-year-old Bernard Walmsley, also of Blackburn, said: “I don’t know what they are doing at the top level.

“They are clutching at straws going for these inexperienced managers when there are more experienced people out there.

“They could have given it to Billy Davies last time but instead went for Appleton.”

Bernard Maloney, 66, of Blackburn, said he wasn’t surprised, especially after the bad football the team had played recently.

He said: “If we don’t win our next three games then we are in trouble. Sacking the manager was probably the right decision in the long term.”

Jerome Hayes, 33, of Blackburn, said: “Venky’s didn’t give him enough money to build a good team. Who is going to come in and replace him? They can’t just keep sacking people.”

Forty-five-year-old Stephen Manners said Appleton was the wrong person for the job.

While Blackburnian David Metcalfe, 28, said: “Venky’s need to buck their ideas up. I stopped going this season because Venky’s have ruined everything and I can’t see myself going back anytime soon.”

But Jamie King, 24, of Blackburn, said it was not the right decision. He said: “I am disappointed as they seem to have rushed into this decision.

And Richard Boardman, 26, of Darwen, said: “I disagree with the decision. Appleton talked a lot of sense and hasn’t had time to build his team.”