VENKY’S have revealed that their passion for Blackburn Rovers is the reason why they cannot contemplate selling the club to Qatar Petroleum – insisting that they are not motivated by money.
Rovers are understood to have attracted interest from Middle East oil giant QP in the past few days but Venky’s insisted on Sunday that they were not interested in selling up.
No formal offer has been made but it is thought that QP, owned by the wealthy Gulf state Qatar and said to be the third biggest oil company in the world, would be willing to give Venky’s a return on the £23m they paid the Walker Trust for the club a year ago.
Venkatesh Rao, though, insists they are not interested in the money and has explained that it is the love that Venky’s hold for Rovers which has meant they are not prepared to even consider walking away, despite heavy criticism from supporters in recent times.
“We’re here to stay with the club,” said Rovers’ co-owner.
“We’re not interested to give it to anybody. It’s like our baby.
“Money is not everything for us. The passion is there and we don’t want to let the fans down.
“We have not come here to fool around. We are here with serious motivation, on a serious note, we love our company, we love our club and we love our fans.
“We’ve had no offer and we’re not interested.”
Asked how long Venky’s intended to remain owners of Rovers, he said: “As long as God wants, no problem.
“God willing, we will be there for long.”
The Rao brothers last travelled to England in September, when they saw Rovers beat Arsenal at Ewood Park, but their next visit is imminent.
“Very soon, maybe in the next couple of weeks,” said Venkatesh.
Rao admits Venky’s remain worried about Rovers’ league position, with the club second bottom of the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash at Wigan.
This week marks the first anniversary of the Indian poultry giants’ arrival at the club, a year that has been far from plain sailing.
”We’ve had our ups and downs. Everything is difficult in life but it is not extraordinarily difficult,” he added.
”It’s very nice to have such a prestigious football club.
”But you have to be sure of your results also, which I’m sure will come off later.
”We are very much concerned. We want to be a little higher and no lower.
“No team wants to be down and we are trying very hard and I’m sure we will produce some results.”
Reports emerged last week that Rovers were set to hand boss Steve Kean a new deal.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands that preliminary discussions have been held, but Rao insists no contract is imminent.
“It’s very early to talk about something like that,” he said.
“At present there is nothing, to tell you very honestly.
”I don’t know how the news has come out but it is nothing like that, nothing has been signed.”
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