Structure is now in place to move forward, insist Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Structure is now in place to move forward, insist Blackburn Rovers
1:10pm Friday 29th June 2012 in Sport
By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter
BLACKBURN Rovers believe they have the managerial structure at Ewood Park to spearhead a swift return to the Premier League after yesterday appointing former Preston chairman Derek Shaw as their new managing director.
Owners Venky’s were criticised last season for a lack of key management figures at Ewood, with many decisions taken from India following the departures of John Williams and Tom Finn.
But Venky’s recently installed Shebby Singh as global advisor to oversee events at Ewood and have also now brought in Shaw with immediate effect to work alongside Paul Agnew.
Agnew, previously the club’s press officer, had been given the new title of general manager earlier this summer but that has now been altered to operations director.
Shaw was chairman of Preston between 2001 and 2010, having joined the club’s board in 1994.
He was recommended to Venky’s by Agnew, who spent a period as chief executive of Preston in the early 1990s at a time when Shaw first became involved at Deepdale as the club’s shirt sponsor.
“Derek knows football, he’s got vast knowledge,” Agnew said last night.
“We just felt we needed someone on that administrative side and it’s a two-pronged attack.
“My title has changed because we felt that the role of general manager, most people did not understand it and what level it was at. But there is a seat on the board and it is an administrative role.
“I will work alongside Derek and he will work alongside me. Between us we have got 50 years’ experience in football.
“It’s about having that stability. There has been a lot of upheaval in a short space of time.
“It’s about fighting back now, although there’s no magic wand.
“Derek brought in David Moyes at Preston and they twice went into the play-offs in the division that we are going to be in, the Championship.”
A lifelong Preston fan, North End remained in the Championship during Shaw’s tenure but suffered relegation after he opted to step down to be replaced by Maurice Lindsay following Trevor Hemmings’ takeover of the club.
“I have been speaking with the owners for a few weeks,” Shaw, 54, told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“The owners know that things haven’t gone very well but they want things to change and they are so passionate about getting the club back in the Premier League.
“That’s something I want as well because I’ve been in the game for 20-odd years and I’ve never been there.
“I will be very involved in speaking to the owners and the day-to-day decisions and very involved in working with the non-football management.
“We know the fans have been disappointed with the last 18 months but we want to try to put that behind us now and move forward.
“I hope the fans can give us time because we will all be working extremely hard and I’ve been very impressed with the hours Steve Kean is putting in to put the squad together.
“I know how much time he put into the Danny Murphy deal. Danny had other offers but Steve just wouldn’t say no.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (87)
1:19pm Fri 29 Jun 12
riversidefan says...
1:22pm Fri 29 Jun 12
dallydally says...
1:23pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jackmetickler says...
Who cares what your job title is... you have done diddly squat since you joined and in shaws time at Preston they nearly went out the league.
I wonder what his 'characteristics' are then?
Good at bleeding a club dry and then doing a runner!
1:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12
garydavies2304 says...
1:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12
chickenfarm says...
Brought in Moyes ok give you that as a good choice
What about the rest:
Craig Brown
Phil Brown
Darren Ferguson
and the rest of the managers Preston are still paying off
This man is worse than Venkys
Administration here we come!!!!!!!!!
1:29pm Fri 29 Jun 12
makaveli96 says...
1:30pm Fri 29 Jun 12
MxMave says...
All you need to do is say those 7 little words:
Kean, get out and never come back.
1:30pm Fri 29 Jun 12
1rover says...
1:31pm Fri 29 Jun 12
French Rover says...
Mr Shaw it will not work and you will never achieve your dream of working in the EPL whist you still think that Kean is the man. Do not say nice things about the despicable one. He wont take you there. Get rid . Now.
1:32pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Rishtonian says...
Till Kean has gone threwill be a half empty ground so how are Venky's going to be able to pay all these YES men
KEAN OUT !!!!!!
1:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12
dallydally says...
1:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12
RobbyRover says...
Agnew is the obvious weak link on that board. He embarrassed himself last year, and for a man with a background in PR, if he actually believes promoting him will excite the fans then he is pretty **** rubbish at his job. Operations Director - I'd ship him out and replace him with the ticket lady, at least she knows what the fans think!
The real problem in this is obvious - Kean. Shaw has been tasked with rebuilding the relationship with the fans. That could either be the easiest job in the world or the hardest. The relationship can be improved immeasurably by simply sacking Kean. If he cannot do that, he has an impossible task. Let me reiterate - whilst Kean is in charge the relationship with supporters will be incredibly fractious.
Shebby Singh is another strange one. Yes he has cited Ronnie Clayton as his idol, which is nice, however having called strongly for Kean's head last season failure to act on this now he is in power will cast serious doubt over his credibility. To simply say "everyone must start with a clean slate" is naive at best, and straight out the Paul Agnew book of bad PR. Shebby must show some bottle if he wants to be accepted. Saying something like "Kean must be in the top 3 after 10 games or he is fired" will go a lot further than tweeting "2013-14 will be when we clinch out 2nd Premiership title" (as he already has).
So that's my thinking, trying to be as objective as possible. These board members have to show their mettle and stand up for the fans, and fast, if they want to be successful at Ewood, and that means removing, or showing intent to remove, Steve Kean. And whatever you do Shebby and Derek - don't listen to Agnew when it comes to PR.
1:34pm Fri 29 Jun 12
bypass06 says...
And i'm sure these positions are only being filled to pass the strict football league fit and proper test, which i believe is a lot stricter than the Premier leagues.
1:39pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Tuo Neak says...
With 50 years experience in football you would think they'd notice a manager with an appalling record was the biggest problem at the football club.
“We know the fans have been disappointed with the last 18 months but we want to try to put that behind us now and move forward"
Get on with it and sack the manager then! Was this question asked or was it a one way conversation?
1:47pm Fri 29 Jun 12
ewoodcow says...
“I know how much time he put into the Danny Murphy deal. Danny had other offers but Steve just wouldn’t say no.”
That's it then - another Kean supporter brought in by Kean's best mate Agnew. All this re-structuring seems to be about protecting Kean rather than protecting the future of the Club.
1:47pm Fri 29 Jun 12
unclejacklegend says...
1:48pm Fri 29 Jun 12
penemo says...
Believe me we will only move forward when the lying con man Keane has been shown the door.
Come on Mr Shaw do what every rovers fan wants and kick keane out NOW
1:50pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
Ordinary Fan.
1:57pm Fri 29 Jun 12
rovertakenmb says...
"Agents, Rovers and Cricket Loving Owners"
The book OUT JULY 2012
www.rovertaken.co.uk
1:59pm Fri 29 Jun 12
burnleyglentoran says...
Come on which one of your BRKFC fans is gonna hold their hand up?!
As Blackburn fans youve bin flogging a dead horse for years!!!!!!
NO NAY NEVER
2:09pm Fri 29 Jun 12
garyintandem says...
2:13pm Fri 29 Jun 12
givet82 says...
2:15pm Fri 29 Jun 12
dangerous dave says...
YES JUST JOBS FOR THE 'BOYS/MATES' ON BIG SALARIES AND BONUSES - and as for the idiot Kean working long hours - it does'nt mean a thing if no benefits come from it - long hours last season and demotion at the end of it with the worst performance history at Ewood for many a year !!!!!
OUT WITH KEAN AGNEW SINGH VENKYS AND ALL THEIR RECOMMENDED WELL PAID MATES!!!
2:17pm Fri 29 Jun 12
benal13 says...
2:17pm Fri 29 Jun 12
noddymcleod says...
Failed manager in charge !
At least half the first team squad wanting away !
Bank account in India !
Ageing respected 34 year old club captain dismissed for being too expensive to be replaced by expensive 35 year old !!!
Malaysian star of game against Shrewsbury as leading figure !
Lowest number of ST renewals for many seasons !!!
"Structure in place"
"Captain of Titanic and ship-owners and director of shipping say structure in place for future cruises"
At least Shaw has hands on experience in Division One for the season after this.
2:20pm Fri 29 Jun 12
ivegillian says...
As an experienced football person you will be more than aware of what preceded your appointment to your new role at Blackburn Rovers.
If you had attended the final game at Ewood you will have witnessed the scale of apathy towards the owners and their manager Mr Kean. Apathy is a very mild term to use for some sections of the crowd that evening.
They expressed - as they had done, increasingly through the season, - the complete absence of belief in Mr Kean because of his tactics, his transfer policy, his public relations and his personal behaviour.
The opinions of the vast majority of supporters will not change one iota until Mr Kean goes. This position will not change irrespective of our league position, the players we sign and lose or through any change in the board room management structure.
The man is a liability at every level - there are many of us for example who have not and will not renew our season ticket because he remains as manager. Managers who have this effect - and I cannot recall any manager who has had such a profound negative effect on a club as Mr Kean - are total liabilities. They are a major risk to the future of the organisation.
Between you, Mr Singh and the Venkys a decision needs to be made before the start of the season to remove this man from his job - if you fail to do this if will simply confirm to the vast majority of supporters that he - or someone he is associated with - has a level of control over the ownership of the club that cannot be publicised.
So, as long as this huge shadow of doubt about the ownership of the club hangs over the club - symbolised by Mr Kean remaining as manager - I will not be returning to Ewood - and I stress again that position will stand irrespective of new boardroom structures, signings and results or patronising gestures through you or Mr Singh.
In this case this simply entails sacking
2:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12
SuperAtko 13 says...
2:28pm Fri 29 Jun 12
sonny says...
2:28pm Fri 29 Jun 12
A Darener says...
He must be a mate of Paul Mckenna, who has taught him everything he knows about hypnosis. All who come into contact with the evil one are instantly hypnotised into Kean's way of thinking. That would answer the questions to why players sign for him, teams take his instructions and the owners idolise him.
2:34pm Fri 29 Jun 12
sonny says...
2:34pm Fri 29 Jun 12
bburnrover says...
The thing about dismissing Kean is constant what has he actually done or said to get Mrs Desai to inform all these new executives that they have to support him? I wonder what we the fans will do if he gets us playing like Brazil and we are 20 points in front at Christmas? I do believe the hatred is such that many fans are hoping we do poorly just to get shut of him.The problem is that we cannot lose face to Burnley we need to carry on putting them to the sword or they will get big headed like they were in the 60s.I suppose our hardened fans will suffer a loss if it means Kean goes.
I do think we may have an exciting team for the Championship if the Portugese lads sign and they are decent but players like Pederson,Dunn,Goodwi
llie and Dann should do a lot better in this league the experience the have from the Prem must hold us in good stead for this season.I am dying to buy 2 STs but I still think Kean may go so I am hanging fire to see what happens.
2:37pm Fri 29 Jun 12
sonny says...
2:44pm Fri 29 Jun 12
A Darener says...
2:52pm Fri 29 Jun 12
123Jon123 says...
Quality! why do it now? let's free fall out of the championship before getting it right. We already dropped from the most lucrative league in the world! Shonky owners, Shonky manager. Kean, Venky's, Anderson and son out!
2:55pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Oakdale blue says...
Stay at home and watch the EPL on Sky I'm sure we wont miss you.
Season ticket purchased
New shirt purchased
Ready to cheer the boys on.
RTID
2:55pm Fri 29 Jun 12
benal13 says...
2:56pm Fri 29 Jun 12
oldblue says...
3:03pm Fri 29 Jun 12
benal13 says...
3:05pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Tuo Neak says...
Season ticket bought, hoping that the manager is removed before having to start shouting against him at the first match.
You are right on one thing its getting very boring having to say the same things over and over while no-one listens to the supporters of the football club. The club once was part of the community not a private members club...
3:16pm Fri 29 Jun 12
maltese blue n white says...
3:23pm Fri 29 Jun 12
maltese blue n white says...
3:27pm Fri 29 Jun 12
vicn1956 says...
Tony Blair re war in Iraq/Afghanistan- let's move on.
Teflon Tony.
Teflon Kean.
3:29pm Fri 29 Jun 12
vicn1956 says...
3:32pm Fri 29 Jun 12
postman dudley says...
You're taking the Micky right Shabby!!!!
3:42pm Fri 29 Jun 12
1riversider says...
We have a fantastic new management structure of a failed chairman from another club, a failed PR? man, and a lunatic TV pundit to drive the ship forward. Oh, I almost forgot, a completely useless manager!
Success must be just around the corner!! NOT
God only knows what is going through these shysters minds, unless it is total oblivion for BRFC.
FOR GODS SAKE BEGONE FROM OUR CLUB - NOW!!
3:42pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Rovers 1495 says...
3:57pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
I am not going to disagree with you the comments are getting boring because they are repetitive, they are repetitive because we have not got a lot going for us as disgruntled fans, boycotting ST is one that is realy hurting them I have it on good authority this is top oif the agenda at EVER meeting at BRFC, keep saying boycott does get boring but what choice have we.
Now discussing your points, I did get behind the team last season, not the manager because of his record as a PL manager, on top of this all the lies we where told and again just as a person he is a convicted DD, I realy realy do want to go down to Ewood but this cannot be because I see my club being pillaged by this lot and by going down it would be like condoning all they are doing, hopefully one day we will meet on the Bburn End but sorry not whilst he is in charge, good luck.
4:00pm Fri 29 Jun 12
buzzinfly says...
4:04pm Fri 29 Jun 12
100%ROVERS says...
Shaw Out
Venkys Out
Agnew Out
Fans message remains the same !!!
You are a cancerous presence in our great club and must be removed before the club can move forward and reconnect with the fans....
4:07pm Fri 29 Jun 12
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH THE IDIOT KEAN AGNEW SINGH AND VENKYS
4:19pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
My boys? These I take it are the directors, would an ordinary manager talk about the directors like that?
Who is actually in charge down at Ewood?
Seeing that smiling face after what he has done to my club made me feel sick.
Kean get out.
4:20pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Love Rovers Hate Venkys says...
As for your new purchases: A fool and his money are easily parted.
Kean OUT! Venky's OUT Borat OUT! Anderson OUT! Agnew OUT! Orr OUT! Happy Clappers OUT!
4:21pm Fri 29 Jun 12
benal13 says...
4:35pm Fri 29 Jun 12
James.NoNayNever says...
PS Oakdale is a well known Burnley fan
4:36pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Stafford Rover says...
4:42pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jack01 says...
It's taken them over a year of failure to recognise that they need people 'on the ground' who are supposed to run the club from Ewood and then report back to India. What do we get? These two muppets who know full well which side their bread is buttered on. People call Kean a yes man. Its Agnew and Shaw who are the yes men to Kean. Its jobs for the boys. Kean is still calling the shots. He has eliminated the threat of Paul Hunt and replaced it with these two jokers who are as thick as thieves and will do whatever they are told to in order to preserve their 'status' running BRFC on a good wage.
This fantastic new structure that keeps being referred to is a little confusing. Since the last game of last season Paul Agnew has now had 4 different job titles. First he was the programme man, then head of PR (as confirmed by himself), two weeks later the club announced him as 'General manager' before confusing themselves and 'upgrading' him to 'Operations director'. What exactly is the difference between all these jobs? Why is operations director a higher position than general manager? What authority do these people actually have? (I think we all know the answer to that one). Who is occupying the chairman/chief exec role at board meetings? What authority does Shoddy Singer have in comparison to Agnew and Shaw?
If Kean really thinks that appointing his henchmen to the board and signing 35 year old Danny Murphy is going to get people queuing in their thousands for tickets then he's even more clueless than I ever imagined. Lets be honest here folks, Agnew and Shaw are Kean's appointments, not Venkys.
Anyway, now that we have a 'structure' to 'move forward' could we perhaps have some news on a new sponsor? Or are we so rich that we don't need to bother with things like sponsors any more?
Its a complete joke and I really hope that nobody is taken in by these sham appointments.
4:44pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Dukes says...
kean was once gin talking crap to James cooper from sky didn't kean had a due with him in the pass.
4:52pm Fri 29 Jun 12
benal13 says...
4:53pm Fri 29 Jun 12
katrew says...
4:56pm Fri 29 Jun 12
CARover says...
5:00pm Fri 29 Jun 12
lowelife says...
5:04pm Fri 29 Jun 12
RUinsane says...
How much successful experience have they all got between them, not counting Fulhams promotion with Kean at the helm?
5:05pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Roy of the says...
Fighting back? Against who/what? Fighting back against fans who have been terribly let down to the point that many can no longer bring themselves to attend matches? Fighting back against a national press that has been largely supportive of an inept manager, while lambasting the long suffering fans? Fighting back against owners who have sold or forced out Premier League standard players and replaced them with cheap duffers? Fighting back against a manager who established the longest run of any team not to keep a clean sheet in the history of the PL? Fighting back against a manager whose total incompetence saw Rovers relegated to the Championship?
Who do you imagine you are fighting back against Agnew? No magic wand. No clue more like!
5:15pm Fri 29 Jun 12
tiojo says...
5:41pm Fri 29 Jun 12
one more season says...
Now "Everything is in position", to take your money, you are all supposed to smile and be happy like the hero in a Bollywood movie.
EVERYONE GET SOME BACKBONE AND STAY AWAY.
5:43pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Vikings Rover says...
A model which we are to believe will 'spearhead a swift return to the Premier League'.
Don't make me laugh!!
Do you take us for complete fools . . . . . . . . . .
Fool me once shame on you !
Fool me twice shame on me !
Kean Out . . . . . . .
R.T.I.D.
5:50pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Ray Gunn says...
5:56pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Forever-Blue says...
He reffered to the directors as ' He's boys upstairs'
Just how much power does Kean have ??????
6:22pm Fri 29 Jun 12
juanbbien says...
6:25pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jaysay says...
6:31pm Fri 29 Jun 12
oldblue says...
.
6:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jaysay says...
6:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jaysay says...
6:33pm Fri 29 Jun 12
jack01 says...
He now appears to have more control over transfers, appears to have been handed a decent budget by championship standards, has removed his opponent (Paul Hunt), has appointed his cronies (Agnew and Shaw), and appears to now be in absolute control of the club with Venkys placing their interests in the hands of the clown Shebby Singh, who will say what he is told to keep the cash flowing in.
What kind of organisation has the football manager appointing the executive and board members? Ineptitude or are there darker forces at work? I know which I believe.
6:56pm Fri 29 Jun 12
hasslem hasslem says...
.
singh - how dare he talk about ronnie clayton's wife's tears - a cheap stunt extremis. his pals in malaysia may buy into such crass sentimentalism - but it dont wash in north east lancs.
.
agnew has now had more jobs at ewood than tommy docherty has had clubs. does any rovers supporter trust this guy?
.
and now this latest joker
"the owners are so passionate about getting the club back into the premier league" - well if they had listened to virtually every supporter, sponsor, and individual who had not been hypnotised or bought off by "dark forces" then we may not have been in this situation in the first place.
.
then he says he wants to put last season behind us - well bucko, we would like to put the last 20 months behind us and consign it to the dustbin of history - regrettably we are still going through a living hell and as long as venkys continue to crucify my club and keep lord haw haw at the helm - then last season continues this season.
.
he tells us there has been a lot of upheaval in the last 18 months - no sh!t sherlock...do you really think it will be any different with the organ-grinders and the monkey in situ at ewood. do you really think you will be given any responsibility.
.
and finally the new charlie caroli tells us that steve kean has been putting in the hours - so bl00dy what. bet he has a bottle in his office - and he shoul be putting in the hours knocking on every rovers supporter's door and begging for forgiveness whilst wearing sackcloth and ashes.
.
i love blackburn rovers but i hate all the pirates, vagabonds, n'er do-wells and sewer rats currently encamped within those walls. if rovers were a restaurant the environmental health would have closed it down cos of an vermin and pest infection.
7:30am Sat 30 Jun 12
Pommie Art says...
7:49am Sat 30 Jun 12
Bangkok Rover says...
9:09am Sat 30 Jun 12
burnleyglentoran says...
That ya Mrs mate!!!!?????
GOD SAVE THE KEAN
9:38am Sat 30 Jun 12
Nurseman says...
We need a new manager
We also need to know what the hell is going on here
A N E W M A N A G E R P L E A S E
12:08pm Sat 30 Jun 12
OnePostThenTheOther says...
If only your hero had a fraction of talent to go with his limitless BS.
1:30pm Sat 30 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
ACTORS FOR MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE OF MASQUERADING AS FOOTBALL DIRECTORS UNDER INSTRUCTION FROM CLUELESS OWNERS. AN ABILITY TO LISTEN AND CONVEY STREAMING **** ADVANTAGEOUS. A FULL CLEAN DRIVERS LICENSE WILL BE REQUIRED. ALL APPLICATIONS IN LEGIBLE WRITING TO KIT MAN KEAN AT THE BLUES BAR, EWOOD.
1:33pm Sat 30 Jun 12
smellthecoffee says...
1:40pm Sat 30 Jun 12
A Darener says...
Must be selling well then!
2:45pm Sat 30 Jun 12
mrconcept says...
Crooks the lot of you.
AGNEW SHAW VENKYS ANDERSON KEAN OUT
4:41pm Sat 30 Jun 12
Since1972 says...
Now we're 'ready to bounce back' etc - more cheap talk.
No Rovers fans are listening anymore, never mind being convinced - the club is going nowhere except down another division.
Not going back until Venkys are no more.
6:52am Sun 1 Jul 12
Roverthere says...
6:56am Sun 1 Jul 12
Roverthere says...