BRYAN Douglas believes Blackburn Rovers’ new owners have got a lot to answer for this summer – but insists all focus now has to be put into keeping the club in the Premier League.

The Rovers legend admits he is seriously concerned about events around Ewood Park over the last few months but fears talk of protests against the new regime during a crucial season run-in is doing more harm than good.

Under-fire manager Steve Kean has come under heavy criticism from sections of supporters over the last couple of days after seeing his side slump to their longest winless run for 25 years.

Since poultry giants Venky’s sacked the experienced Sam Allardyce for the managerial novice Kean in December, Rovers have become seriously embroiled in the relegation scrap, now sitting just two points clear of the drop zone.

Rovers fans are growing increasingly angry at the way their club is being run, with some calling for Kean to be sacked after a 10-match winless run.

Having continually insisted Kean would not be dismissed, Venky’s are understood to be unmoved in their unfaltering support for the manager.

Co-owners Anuradha Desai, Venkatesh Rao and Balaji Rao were once again unavailable for comment yesterday but a source close to them told the Lancashire Telegraph Kean would remain in charge, despite being fully aware of the growing unrest around Ewood.

Rovers fans have so far remained behind the team and their manager at Ewood Park this season and, despite growing support for a more hostile reception for Manchester City’s visit of Monday, Douglas insists survival could depend on everyone sticking together.

Douglas, who made more than 500 appearances for Rovers between 1952-69, said: “For the fans who think protesting about the situation at matches, I have to tell them I believe it is actually the reverse. Something like that would do more harm than good.

“Everyone I meet around the town at the moment seems to want to talk about relegation and the situation we are in at the moment. Believe me I am as discouraged and worried as the next person.

“I am just as disappointed at what is happening at our club as the loyal fans are but there is nothing we can do about it at the moment. Venky’s are going nowhere and neither is Steve Kean.

“The priority now is to stay in the Premier League and then someone has to sort out what is happening at this club in the summer.

“I hate to say it but we have to live with what we have got at the moment.”

Rovers now look forward to back-to-back home games against Manchester City on Monday night and Bolton Wanderers the following Saturday, as they look to breathe new life into their Premier League campaign.

‘Fortress Ewood’ has been very important for the club over the past couple of seasons and Douglas is calling for a repeat of that atmosphere for games that could decide their fate.

“I am not going to pretend I am enthusiastic by what is happening at the club at the moment. Everyone knows there are problems here, but this is not the time.

“The owners have made some strange decisions and they have a lot to sort out but it is all too late for this season, what is done is done. We can’t change that.

“The only people who can get us out of this now are the players and the manager that we have got. That is not changing and so all we can do is get behind them as best as we can.

“As a former player and from my experiences, and speaking to others, I know that a negative atmosphere at a game has a detrimental effect on the players.

“You do wonder where the next points are coming from and worry about our goal power.

"But it is the players and the manager who have to get us out of this and we have to believe in them.”