Playmaker Formica is latest Rovers star set to head towards the Ewood exit door (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Playmaker Formica is latest Rovers star set to head towards the Ewood exit door
7:49am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MAURO Formica is the latest Blackburn Rovers star ready to quit Ewood Park – as the continuing confusion at the club threatens to hit their Championship preparations.
Rovers’ Argentine playmaker has been unsuccessfully seeking talks with the club since their Premier League relegation more than three weeks ago.
And, with interest from clubs in Turkey and Italy, Formica is preparing to turn his back on the Ewood Park uncertainty in the search for a fresh challenge elsewhere.
As Ewood Park staff wait for the green light to start planning for next campaign, a number of Rovers players have already indicated their desire to quit the club this summer.
Junior Hoilett, Martin Olsson, Steven Nzonzi and Yakubu are all seeking exits in search of top flight football, while a contracted pay cut may force Gael Givet out of Ewood.
A provisional list of targets had already been drawn up in case of relegation last season but, with silence from India, staff in England have been unable to start the recruitment process.
Co owner Venkatesh Rao’s statement less than a fortnight ago saying that the owners were ‘confused’ and would need a month to sort things out further muddied the waters.
He declined to back under fire manager Steve Kean, with the owners still understood to be split on his future, while it is believed Venky’s are in the process of attempting to find a replacement for axed deputy chief executive Paul Hunt.
Rovers boss Steve Kean, who is on holiday, is understood to be the only one in direct contact with club matriarch Anuradha Desai but a lack of communication with players and Ewood staff is in danger of leaving the club playing catch up with their rivals.
Formica, 24, signed for Rovers from Newell’s Old Boys for an estimated £3.5m in January 2011 and was immediately touted by boss Kean as the ‘new Gabriel Batistuta’.
Nicknamed Gato - meaning cat - he made 34 Premier League appearances last campaign, including nine from the substitutes bench, and scored four goals.
He is under contract until the summer of 2014 and Rovers would look to recoup the price they paid for Formica, and more, to even tempt them into considering a sale.
Formica almost moved to Greek outfit Olympiakos last January and, unless Rovers can convince him the future is bright in the coming ways, will be seeking an exit this summer.
A source close to Formica said: “I don´t know what happening with Mauro, because in the past three weeks it was impossible to talk with anyone in Blackburn.
“We want to know the Blackburn´s ideas about the future, but he is looking for another club in Europe. I think it is the better way.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (84)
8:04am Wed 6 Jun 12
egbutnobacon says...
8:18am Wed 6 Jun 12
1rover says...
8:21am Wed 6 Jun 12
philmoulden says...
8:21am Wed 6 Jun 12
craftandgraft says...
K E N T A R O OUT
A G N E W OUT
Arte et Labore
ps SK is in Ukraine on Friday
8:22am Wed 6 Jun 12
Coeur de Lion says...
8:23am Wed 6 Jun 12
PpMac says...
SK suggested he was going to pull out all the stops on keeping the squad together and Mr Evasive said to sky sports "at whatever costs"....so 3 weeks Formica has been trying to discuss the future and the way forward and for those weeks the Manager/co-owner and probably claims to be a decendent founder of BRFC has been to India for a 'meeting' then on holiday....lets hope he's not being filmed talking to some fans eh!!!!
B.R.F.C. = J.O.K.E.
8:26am Wed 6 Jun 12
edmy says...
8:31am Wed 6 Jun 12
Dan11 says...
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The Venkys are the greatest comedy act to ever come out of football! Unless of course you have to suffer as a Rovers supporter like us- watching us slide down the table faster than a 5 dollar hooker!
8:47am Wed 6 Jun 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
Obviously just a title so he can get his back hander.
BRFC. RIP
8:51am Wed 6 Jun 12
Dan11 says...
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How incompetent and clueless are the Venkys? Even good players like Formica who could make a difference next season are being treated with utter contempt and a lack of respect by Kean and the Venkys.
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Do the Venkys really think this is the way to run a childrens tea party let alone a professional football club?
8:51am Wed 6 Jun 12
French Rover says...
8:54am Wed 6 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
.
Venky's aren't fit to own a football club and Steve Kean isn't fit to manage a football club.
8:55am Wed 6 Jun 12
Blocked Again says...
9:01am Wed 6 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
9:07am Wed 6 Jun 12
French Rover says...
9:11am Wed 6 Jun 12
Dan11 says...
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No one wants the VENKYS as our owners, no one wants KEAN as manager. The sooner they get the message the better.
9:16am Wed 6 Jun 12
tom2malta2 says...
9:24am Wed 6 Jun 12
tugay 4 ever says...
9:24am Wed 6 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
9:26am Wed 6 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
9:33am Wed 6 Jun 12
stu82 says...
9:36am Wed 6 Jun 12
hasslem hasslem says...
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In summary the following players are on their way: N'Zonzi, Hoilett, Formica, Olsson, Yakubu, Robinson, Givet, Salgado and I am asuming Rochina and Dann (no great loss with the last name - in my opinion). This coupled with last season's departures of Samba, Nelsen, Andrews, Emerton, Jones, Diouf, Roberts and Kalanic......that's 18 gone or going that would each have a legitimate first team claim.
.
I wonder if steve "on a beach spending my money" kean could explain how this is taking "one step back to take two steps forwards"? Nah, don't think he would bother to answer that one.....and to think the clog that roy hodgson is getting for not picking rio ferdinand - i appreciate that is england not rovers - but apart from henry winter - no journo gives a flying do-dah about what is going on at ewood....and now we are out of the glare of the premiership the venkys and kean and their advisers can continue their destruction of our once great club in the murky shadows.
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it's heartbreaking that they are allowed to get away with it.
9:38am Wed 6 Jun 12
philmoulden says...
9:41am Wed 6 Jun 12
philmoulden says...
9:46am Wed 6 Jun 12
whittaker0 says...
I think it is time for Mrs Desai to act in the interests, firstly of herself and secondly of Blackburn Rovers Football Club. I find it difficult to believe that a successful business woman as Mrs Desai would tolerate Steve Kean. I feel strongly that over the years the standards of behaviour have dropped in this country to an alarmingly low level. The behaviour of Steve Kean confirms my thinking. Mrs Desai does not come from this country so it stands to reason that some of Steve Kean's behaviour such as drinking and driving must be abhorrent to her. Steve Kean's behaviour on the film in Hong Kong was simply appalling; lowest common denominator stuff. Steve Kean is bringing the good name of Blackburn Rovers into disrepute by his continued involvement with the club. I am a member of MCC, whose role is till to uphold the laws of cricket and I can assure Mrs Desai that Steve Kean would not be tolerated there. Mrs Desai please do the right thing and start to rebuild the club by sacking Steve Kean.
The fans are not getting a fair deal and deserve more from the owners of Blackburn Rovers and Football Association however I cannot help but think that this could be the end of the road for the club.
9:48am Wed 6 Jun 12
Dan11 says...
9:52am Wed 6 Jun 12
Gaz M says...
adium manager and his new director of communication will almost certainly put to bed any ideas of an immediate return to the premier league.I have to say as much as I love the club, if I was a pro player at the moment then with all the missmanagement and zero information Iwould want away asap what a diabolic shambles our once great proud club has become .Kean out ,Venkys out and all the parasitic hangers on out!
9:59am Wed 6 Jun 12
dangerous dave says...
The club is being ripped apart by the lack of communication between its assets and its fans - where is this idiot PAUL AGNEW the so called Rovers fan and the one to communicate with the fans - 'as silent as the grave'!!
Anyone wanting to buy a Season Ticket thats if they could must be mad - DO NOT SUPPORT THESE CHEATS OUR ARE TREATING THE FANS WITH UTTER CONTEMPT.
OUT WITH KEAN AND OUT WITH THE VENKYS
9:59am Wed 6 Jun 12
Judge Nic Sanders says...
One day he may have to back up his statements to the Venky's or the courts.
10:01am Wed 6 Jun 12
Jamie's Magic Torch says...
Success brings it's own problems and after last season victory at Old Trafford we were bound to have the vouchers circling for our prized assets.
If anyone can guide us through it Comrade Keane can.
We have to take a step back to take two forward.
Welcome to 1984.
10:01am Wed 6 Jun 12
Blocked Again says...
10:10am Wed 6 Jun 12
jaysay says...
10:10am Wed 6 Jun 12
philmoulden says...
check this out on youtube , if they can do it , the fa did,nt give a sh!t , ONLY WE can rebuild our club .
come on brag and brsit ,get together and lets ignore the venkys and start again , it will be a joy coming thru the leagues and own a bit of the club as well .
10:12am Wed 6 Jun 12
bypass06 says...
de ventilateurs hors du sol qu'en.
10:15am Wed 6 Jun 12
BashirShah says...
10:15am Wed 6 Jun 12
bypass06 says...
10:18am Wed 6 Jun 12
oreilly21 says...
THIS CLUB IS A JOKE!!!!!!!!
10:19am Wed 6 Jun 12
James.NoNayNever says...
10:23am Wed 6 Jun 12
bypass06 says...
And as for vouchers circling. Really, do you mean Vultures...D$ckhead.
10:35am Wed 6 Jun 12
James.NoNayNever says...
10:38am Wed 6 Jun 12
Nurseman says...
10:39am Wed 6 Jun 12
Nurseman says...
................
10:44am Wed 6 Jun 12
Blocked Again says...
10:47am Wed 6 Jun 12
Wild Rover says...
and it does not help.
Just wish you would all stop making a bad situation worse..but it wont happen
11:13am Wed 6 Jun 12
Sammy53 says...
Last season the football media, soccer pundit`s and premiership managers were all praising "Slap Head " to the heavens; week in week out we were told what an "incredible job he was doing", that he was a "top top bloke" and that it was us the fans to blame not him.
Liverpool, Villa, Swansea, Norwich & Chelsea and not a single link for Kean to any of these jobs? whats going on, not even the faintest whisper of support from any of the two faced idiots of the press, managers and pundits who laid into us Rovers fans.
11:14am Wed 6 Jun 12
Jamie's Magic Torch says...
Dos beer s'il vous plait!
11:14am Wed 6 Jun 12
Jamie's Magic Torch says...
Dos beer s'il vous plait!
11:14am Wed 6 Jun 12
Jamie's Magic Torch says...
Dos beer s'il vous plait!
11:17am Wed 6 Jun 12
lowelife says...
11:29am Wed 6 Jun 12
sean_brfc says...
11:31am Wed 6 Jun 12
dezzer48 says...
12:20pm Wed 6 Jun 12
BashirShah says...
12:20pm Wed 6 Jun 12
BashirShah says...
12:27pm Wed 6 Jun 12
mavrick says...
I do fear that Rovers may not survive this debacle. The FA will stand on the sidelines wringing their hands until it is too late. Perhaps the FA need to be sacked and a completely new structure put in place. I think it will be a long time out of the premiership for Rovers. The only way Football will change, is for the fans to keep their money in their pockets and demand a say in how things are run. Premier league football is on the point of implosion due to the extremely large amounts of money involved. Perhaps Rovers demise is the catalyst needed to start the implosion.
12:36pm Wed 6 Jun 12
OnePostThenTheOther says...
12:54pm Wed 6 Jun 12
carlmc says...
12:55pm Wed 6 Jun 12
BashirShah says...
Fingers crossed its not more confusion!
1:06pm Wed 6 Jun 12
carlmc says...
The last time I was on was the afternoon, before we played Sunderland. The so called pundits were saying how great Kean was and what a miracle he had performed 'keeping us up'. After we wont that match of course then went further over the top about him.
I pointed out the error of their comments and stated that no way on earth would we avoid relegation. They argued that I was wrong and they were right. Of course we know what happened, but they get paid for giving an opinion and I don't!
1:25pm Wed 6 Jun 12
A Darener says...
1:30pm Wed 6 Jun 12
bypass06 says...
@CryerRovers what's happening with #KeanOut ?
@CryerRovers
@goodwin79 Nothing. He is staying
@CryerRovers
I understand there could be an announcement soon as well. Nothing major mind
1:31pm Wed 6 Jun 12
jackmetickler says...
So what have they done....
diddly squat!
Or is the saviour in all this chaos meant to be Colin Hendry... a great player but since finishing he has not covered himself in honour...
and I dont think 2 drunken jocks is the answer!
So exactly what are you doing you useless pieces of excr*ment!
2:20pm Wed 6 Jun 12
ivegillian says...
Still no word - are you on holiday as well - with the Kean family perhaps - watch out for people tape recording your conversations - lots of people in Blackburn and elsewhere would be pleased to learn what plan you and your friend are developing. Based on past performances it wont be a good one.
Back here in the UK we have just finished celebrating the Jubilee of someone who has total integrity and behaves in a manner that brings dignity to the role she has to play. She keeps her thoughts to herself at all times but maintains a dignified and authoritative presence that, even if you do not agree with what she represents, most people would respect.
Unfortunately none of those qualities can be associated with those that currently control the destiny of our football club.
Surely, you must now be aware of how the club is disintegrating around you - yet there has been no attempt after two weeks in your new role to begin to explain what you are going to do about it.
Most of us keep telling you the same thing. It does not need a months worth of deliberation to get rid of the greatest mistake of a manager football there has ever seen. There have been bad managers aplenty but no single individual as ever brought so many negatives into his role as your friend.
Do you not realise you have a crisis on your hands? In any other type of organisation firm, positive steps would have been taken immediately to arrest - for example- the issue of thousands
not renewing seasons tickets and them openly declaring that they will not return to Ewood until that man goes.
No clever (?) PR or gesture management by you and your colleagues will win these fans - including myself - back. You are completely underestimating how low you have taken our club and the depth of ill feeling that exists.
Or do you recognise this but you do not have a clue where to start? Well, there are plenty of us willing - and more than able - to give you some constructive ideas. NOW. TODAY.
2:20pm Wed 6 Jun 12
ChrisSutton says...
JEROME ANDERSON SCUM OUT
VENKYS SCUM OUT
KEAN SCUM OUT
That is all.
2:24pm Wed 6 Jun 12
benal13 says...
2:48pm Wed 6 Jun 12
adcr says...
2:50pm Wed 6 Jun 12
did you smash it? says...
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Will the last one to leave (probably fatty Dunn) please turn out the lights, as the administrator needs to save money!
2:53pm Wed 6 Jun 12
Mrs Greenkeepers Back says...
2:59pm Wed 6 Jun 12
A Darener says...
Very true, the fans felt really let down by the ticketing arrangements for the Final and voted with their feet. As you say it took a long time for them to get over it. This time could be even worse because I can only see us dropping through the leagues.
2:59pm Wed 6 Jun 12
happiness says...
3:05pm Wed 6 Jun 12
unclejacklegend says...
3:23pm Wed 6 Jun 12
benal13 says...
3:30pm Wed 6 Jun 12
carlmc says...
I shudder at the prospect
3:51pm Wed 6 Jun 12
juanbbien says...
4:07pm Wed 6 Jun 12
lowelife says...
4:13pm Wed 6 Jun 12
Stone Island. says...
Does this mean responsible for footballing matters, too?
4:37pm Wed 6 Jun 12
adcr says...
9:51pm Wed 6 Jun 12
bburnrover says...
we have got to stop the rot before it tutns to gangrene
9:52pm Wed 6 Jun 12
rovers11-12 says...
Did Givet forget about the clause in his contract relating to reduced wages or did he think this was like the tax money that he did not need to pay on his earnings.
9:57pm Wed 6 Jun 12
rovers11-12 says...
10:38pm Wed 6 Jun 12
unclejacklegend says...
9:17am Thu 7 Jun 12
did you smash it? says...
.
Who's with me?
10:13am Thu 7 Jun 12
unclejacklegend says...
8:04pm Thu 7 Jun 12
timeforcommonsense says...
1:32pm Wed 20 Jun 12
rovertakenmb says...
Read all about it in my book - OUT SOON - spread the word.
www.rovertaken.co.uk