SHEBBY Singh is understood to be ready to persist in his attempts to appoint Billy McKinlay as Blackburn Rovers’ new boss this week – despite being refused permission to speak to the Scot yesterday.

Rovers’ global advisor has identified former Rovers midfielder McKinlay, currently first-team coach at Fulham, as the man he wants to replace Steve Kean after attempts to lure Tim Sherwood and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer proved unsuccessful.

But Fulham knocked back Rovers’ first request to speak to the 43-year-old yesterday and McKinlay’s potential appointment has already attracted opposition from fans, who are wary of owners Venky’s again appointing a boss with no previous managerial experience.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that Venky’s are yet to give the go-ahead for the appointment, should permission eventually be granted by the London club, with some members of the board believed to have been surprised by the news of the approach for the Scot.

They are attempting to persuade the owners to instead move for a more experienced boss – instead wanting a move for Blackpool’s Ian Holloway.

Singh, however, rates McKinlay, highly after receiving recommendations that the former Scotland international, who also works as assistant manager to Michael O’Neill with the Northern Ireland national team, is one of the most promising coaches in the game.

Despite co-owner Balaji Rao yesterday telling the Indian media that a managerial appointment could yet take another two weeks, Singh is hopeful that a deal with Fulham can be completed swiftly – possibly even ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Sheffield Wednesday.

McKinlay made 104 appearances for Rovers between 1995 and 2000, later moving into coaching with Fulham midway through the 2004/05 campaign.

He worked alongside Kean and first-team boss Chris Coleman at Craven Cottage, remaining at the club following their departure.

He has since stepped up from development squad manager to become first-team coach under Martin Jol – also combining his club duties with a move into the Northern Ireland international set-up earlier this year following the appointment of O’Neill, his former Dundee United team-mate.

McKinlay was linked with a move to become Kean’s new assistant at Rovers following the exits of both John Jensen and Paul Clement, and his coaching skills are said to have impressed Northern Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong, who has been among those offering advice to Singh in recent times. His international role, however, would have to be discussed should he be offered the Rovers job.

Singh is understood to have always favoured the appointment of an up and coming manager but the approach for McKinlay has raised concerns from the Ewood Park faithful who are worried that Rovers could be repeating the mistake they made when they put the inexperienced Kean in charge two years ago.

The Blackburn Rovers Action Group, who were fiercely opposed to Kean’s reign as boss, released a statement yesterday afternoon urging the club to appoint an experienced manager.

“We have had thousands of supporters contact us in the last few days demanding that the BRFC Action Group takes immediate action to prevent Blackburn Rovers appointing a manager unwanted by the supporter base,” the statement said.

“They have expressed their deepest concerns that our club are taking no notice of the general consensus across the supporter base.

“Talk of Billy McKinlay and Tim Sherwood, who are both coaches with no managerial experience, has sent the supporter base into meltdown.

“The decision of appointing Blackburn Rovers’ new manager is the most important decision that will ever be made at the club.

“It will define the club’s future and will be the difference between supporters returning to Ewood, or turning their backs until suitable new owners are found.

“We beg the owners and the appointing committee of the new manager to listen to the supporter base and appoint an experienced and capable manager so our club can get promoted at the first attempt.”

Rovers legend Simon Garner said: “I speak to people and I know Billy is very highly regarded as a coach.

“Whether a good coach becomes a good manager, it doesn’t always happen.

“I can understand that fans are concerned because he’s not experienced and people will talk about it being like Steve Kean.

“But the club have obviously thought about it and he must be doing something right to be so highly regarded.

“I think we just need to wait and see what happens.”