Mrs Desai: Why John Williams left Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Mrs Desai: Why John Williams left Blackburn Rovers

10:20am Saturday 5th February 2011 in Sport Exclusive By David Watkinson , Deputy news editor

BLACKBURN Rovers' owner Anuradha Desai has revealed why John Williams left the club.

Mrs Desai, speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph, claimed Mr Williams had 'lost interest in the role' and 'didn't get on' with manager Steve Kean.

She said her family had not wanted the popular chairman to leave.

No decision has yet been made on a successor, but she said Jerome Anderson - boss of SEM/Kentaro sports agency which is advising Rovers - was not an option as his role was to 'diminish'.

Mr Williams, described as a true great by fans yesterday, has declined to give any interviews, but released the following statement: "There is a new order, a new way of doing things and I believe the time is right for me now to move on.

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish the club, its owners, management, players, employees and supporters all the very best for the future."

A compensation package was agreed between Mr Williams and the club on Wednesday ahead of the home match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mrs Desai, who attended Ewood Park for the first time this week, said: "John has gone. It is something we have been talking to him about and he felt that he could not continue.

"It is disappointing for us but we have agreed a settlement with him.

"I think that after Sam left, John lost a lot of interest in the club.

"After that happened I think he knew that he wanted to move on.

"I know that he did not get along with Steve (Kean) and he had struggled to accept Jerome (Anderson)'s role at the club."

Mrs Desai said she remained impressed by the job that Kean is doing for Rovers and she played down the future role at the club of Mr Anderson, whose SEM/Kentaro group brokered the takeover deal.

She said: "Jerome has helped us but I want to be very clear that he does not run the club.

"We will be working with anybody and any agents to make this club successful but we are not controlled by his company. His role will now diminish."

On Steve Kean, she said: "The manager is very good. When my brothers first met him they realised that the more you spend time with him the more impressive he becomes.

"He is a thinking manager and we are very impressed with him and we are confident going forward."

It is less than three months since Venky's took control of Rovers after a £23million deal to buy the club from the Walker Trust.