BLACKBURN Rovers owners Venky’s have been told to back their new man after controversially appointing former Burnley manager Owen Coyle as the club’s new boss.

Mr Coyle, 49, became the first man to have managed both of the East Lancashire rivals when he was given a two-year deal at Ewood Park yesterday.

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The appointment has been met with concern by high-profile Rovers fans, with some claiming it showed the club needed new ownership.

Liberal Democrat leader and Rovers fan Tim Farron MP said: “Owen Coyle has great experience and I really wish him well in the role.

“Most Rovers fans have a serious lack of trust in the owners, so I hope that Venky’s will either fully back Owen to get us back into the top flight, or else do the decent thing and sell the club to someone who will.”

Rovers fan Sir Bill Taylor said: “The underlying problem is the reluctance of the owners to communicate with the fanbase.

“You wouldn’t run a business with 15,000 loyal customers and refuse to engage with them.

“I don’t think it matters who the manager is or what the economic situation is at the club, the underlying problem is the Venky’s don’t seem to be interested.

“I wish they would come over here and meet with key individuals in the area to discuss how the club can be taken forward.

“I wish Owen Coyle the best of luck.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones, who is a Rovers season ticket holder, said: “I have got to wish Owen Coyle well. He is managing a great club. The fans definitely deserve better than what they have got.

“On paper, it appears a very poor appointment, given his previous track record and the fact that he not a high-profile name. But only time will tell.”

“Owen Coyle has got to take Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League in his first season. Anything less than that would be a failure.

“Players such as David Jones and Paul Robinson have been at both clubs, so I don’t think the fact he is an ex-Burnley manager really matters that much. He just needs to get results.”

A spokesman for the Rovers Trust said: “It doesn’t seem to matter who the manager is with the way the club has been run and is continuing to be run.

“Rovers fans would rather see a change of ownership rather than a change of manager.”

Ewood ward councillor and Rovers season ticket holder Cllr Maureen Bateson said: “I am sure it is controversial going off the comments I have seen online. I have bought my season ticket and will be going next season.

“I would encourage the fans to get behind the team.”

Mr Coyle was appointed as Clarets manager in 2007 and led them to an unexpected promotion to the Premier League in the 2009/2010 season. But he left controversially in January 2010 for Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers, who he claimed at the time were "five or 10 years ahead" of Burnley. He was sacked from Bolton in 2012 having overseen the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Some have called for Mr Coyle to be given a chance to take the Ewood Park outfit back to former glory.

Bishop of Burnley Philip North, a lifelong Arsenal fan, said: “Owen Coyle is a brave man crossing this particular sporting divide.

“I hope he can guide Blackburn Rovers to join Burnley in the Premier League.”

Former Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “Owen Coyle has got a good record. The most important thing is that we make progress. The Rovers situation is so potentially serious that we need to put aside silly rivalries and give Owen Coyle a chance.”