Blackburn Rovers Column: This has just been embarrassing

8:36am Tuesday 8th May 2012 in Blackburn Rovers blogs Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

BECOMING a Blackburn Rovers fan columnist this season went some way to achieving a long-held ambition for me.

With two left feet and no co-ordination, it was the fact I could string a sentence together that may one-day get me into the sporting profession.

I idolised former Rovers reporter Peter White, and told myself one day I would have that job.

As a youngster, I would write mini match reports from Rovers – and the cricket when we went to watch Lancashire at Old Trafford – in my grandad's little notepad.

So now, here I am, in a job that gives me a chance to write about Rovers – what an anti-climax!

A year in the job and we have been relegated. I've hardly had anything positive to write about over the course of the season.

I certainly wouldn't want to be Blackburn Rovers reporter any more. I don’t envy Mr Cryer one bit.

What a farce. Absentee owners that don't have a clue. A manager with his head in the clouds. A squad exodus. Training ground bust-ups. And now this.

Eleven years as a Premier League club have come to an end. And it certainly won’t be a short road back.

When Rovers went down in 1999, there wasn't even a consideration that it would be permanent.

Uncle Jack was still alive and still putting his hands in his pockets – even if it was to bankroll the odd strange signing.

It was a blip, that was all, and everyone knew it. Now, things are much different.

In 1966, Rovers were relegated from the top flight and the absence lasted for 26 years, including further relegation to the then Third Division.

I think rather than expect a rapid rise within two years to the Premier League like in ’99, I would look forward to a long period of decline.

It’s been an enjoyable 20 years of success. Europe. the Worthington Cup. FA Cup semi-finals and, of course, the Premier League title.

But the transition period is in full swing and it appears we now just have doom and gloom to look forward to.

Comments(22)

makaveli96 says...
11:08am Tue 8 May 12

This wouldnt of happened if our countrys "poor" rules on FOREIGN ownership were banned!!

Back to BASICS Britain!

ROVERS is our club not theres!
The LANDS ours, the teams ours, the clubs SOUL is ours!

The VENKYS only own the "monetry" proportion. OPT OUT of this madness!

Lets take OUR ROVERS back!

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Ossywood says...
12:49pm Tue 8 May 12

Have to be honest and say that as a Blackburn fan I am not too bothered about spending time in the championship! I would rather be relegated than scrape through and endure another season like that! If we would have managed the great escape, the owners would have thought everything was rosie, probably given kean a payrise! I am also glad that the value of our players has now considerably dropped! With next to no tv money and even less to come from sales of worthless players, I believe we will see Venkys true colours! Take the last scraps from our wonderful club and go away you despicable vermin!!! RTID x

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Sherwoodforest says...
2:47pm Tue 8 May 12

At least you have had plenty to report on Dan.....It has most certainly been interesting, to say the least.

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Harwoodstblue says...
2:58pm Tue 8 May 12

Sherwoodforest wrote:
At least you have had plenty to report on Dan.....It has most certainly been interesting, to say the least.
Much more to come out on this debacle shortly, hopefully.
The national journos are starting to see through the shambles that is Ewood Park.
I hope they give Venkys and Kean hell.

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A Darener says...
3:04pm Tue 8 May 12

What we want is an enquiry into the "fit & proper" rules of the PL, similar to the phone hacking scandal. Obviously someone is to blame for allowing these foreign owners to take over, asset strip and relegate the best run PL club in the country in the space of two years.

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maltese blue n white says...
3:13pm Tue 8 May 12

If you idolised Peter White... then follow the example... Stop playing with idle words and print the truth... one of 2 things will happen... 1 you will be castigated and never work for a newspaper again.. 2 you could be actually start the ball rolling on what has actually taken place at Ewood Park over the last 18 mths...win- win...

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Reg Rover says...
3:30pm Tue 8 May 12

THE UNBELIEVABLE JEROME ANDERSON
Football agent Jerome Anderson is to speak at the exclusive RAC club in Pall Mall at a lunch in July. The exclusive London club is charging its members £72 to be enlightened on the activities and expertise of a football agent.
I wonder if Anderson will divulge his involvement in the relegation and demise of Blackburn Rovers.
It is well documented on this website and in the media, over the last twelve months, of Anderson’s disastrous relationship with the Blackburn Rovers owners and manager Steve Keane. To summarise Anderson, at great expense, was appointed advisor to the Venky’s in November 2010 to advise them how to run a Premiership club. His advice allegedly, included the sacking of proven Manager Sam Allardyce, the removal of Chairman John Williams and Chief Executive Tom Finn and the appointment of his own client Steve Keane as manager. Not to mention the signing of substandard players and the removal of established players with Premiership pedigree.
The whole scenario of Anderson’s involvement was a recipe for disaster has now been proved, unfortunately. How the Lancashire Telegraph has allowed this man to prosper without exposing him is beyond belief.
On the 11th January 2010 I posted an article on this website, JEROME ANDERSON’S EXPLOSIVE SKY TV INTERVIEW
http://www.regofther
overs.co.uk/index.ph
p?start=45 . Which in turn brought me an email from Anderson, threatening legal action (still waiting), and temporary closed down the Lancashire Telegraph website on Anderson’s solicitor’s request.
Anderson has denied all my accusations as being untrue, which begs the question just what has Anderson being advising the Venky’s about? Perhaps it was the alleged lucrative Premiership contract for his son Myles Anderson who has yet to kick a ball for Blackburn in anger.
My son is employed by PRCo of Grosvenor Gardens, London in public relations. His company include as clients the RAC Club in Pall Mall. My son will be attending the luncheon in July, and is an avid Blackburn Rovers supporter, he hopes a question and answer session will follow Anderson’s talk and he will be able to ask Anderson to enlighten his audience on the accusations of his involvement at Blackburn Rovers. This website hopes to bring you Anderson’s response.
Reg
Footnote:
May I remind everyone of Sir Alex Ferguson’s response in November 2010 to the news that Jerome Anderson and his company had been appointed advisors to Blackburn Rovers and Allardyce had been sacked? Ferguson’s quotes on Sky TV News were that when it came to picking players “Anderson couldn’t pick his nose” and Ferguson feared for the future of Blackburn saying he envisaged “trouble times ahead”. HOW RIGHT HE WAS.

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Elysiumfire says...
3:30pm Tue 8 May 12

Hey Dan! I'm glad you're not sat next to me when I'm playing poker...you're a bloody jinx!
It's all your influence, therefore your fault!

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Wellsy10 says...
3:31pm Tue 8 May 12

Been on Venkys facebook page today and posted some nice comments. Had to do it on the photos, as for some reason the site does not seem to allow direct comments. Some nice comments about Mr Rao and co and how they are "special" people that do a lot of good work!!! Feel free to add some of your own. The comments seem to be read by employees - may just filter back? Worth a try?

The Vital Blackburn site is commenting on a letter from Mr Hunt to the Venkys mob after the 1-2 defeat to Bolton - makes interesting reading and is apparantly "real" - This may shake things up when it gets published!! Come on LET get a copy published - confirms a lot of what we already know and also RECOMMENDS that Kean is sacked!!

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Markr says...
3:32pm Tue 8 May 12

http://www.haveblack
burnroversbeenrelega
tedyet.com/

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Sherwoodforest says...
3:45pm Tue 8 May 12

http://t.co/F42aNDJB

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PpMac says...
4:45pm Tue 8 May 12

OK, thanks for the bleeding obvious report...but the headline 'Kean confident he will still be in charge come next season' can I ask, or could YOU guys in the press ask...WHY would you think that Steve as you have relegated the club and become one of the worst PL managers since it all began, just what makes you so confident you will remain as manager of this club - The answer would no doubt fill a gap in the toliet, BUT ask the ffling questions that matter, because we can't!!!!

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makaveli96 says...
4:59pm Tue 8 May 12

My wife came in complaining that I never lift a finger around the house.

So I did.

The middle one.

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makaveli96 says...
5:02pm Tue 8 May 12

I went on a backpacking holiday with the wife.On the first night I said, "I think there's a monster under my bed...""Grow up," she replied."No, really," I continued. "It's hideous...""Stop messing about," she snapped. "I knew it was a mistake letting you have the top bunk."

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makaveli96 says...
5:03pm Tue 8 May 12

Rangers FC 2013 Line up - Naismith, Naifuture, Naiclass, Naimoney, Naistadium, Naihope, Naitrophies, Naiprospects, Naifans, Naimanager, Naiplayers.

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makaveli96 says...
5:03pm Tue 8 May 12

Out with the lads from OCD anonymous tonight.

Things aren't gonna get messy.

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Reg Rover says...
5:05pm Tue 8 May 12

ARE BLACKBURN ROVERS NOW STEVE KEANES OWN PERSONAL CLUB?
Following relegation from the Premiership after another abysmal display, this time against Wigan, Steve Keane has braisingly announced that he will be Blackburn Rovers manager for next season.
Is there no limit to this man’s nerve, who does he think he is? Nobody wants him at Ewood Park, except possibly Mrs Anuradha Desai, who he has completely fooled with his spin and over the top optimism.
Does Keane have an hold over the Venky’s? Does he know things they don’t want him to make public? Does he hold shares in the club and is part owner? Something is not right and we need to know.
It just does not make sense to retain Keane as manager either from a business or football view point.
Under his reign attendances have plummeted, season ticket sales are at rock bottom and football annalist fear gates of around 12,000 next season in the current mood of disenchantment.
UNDER KEANE, ROVERS ARE HEADING FOR OBLIVION AND VENKY’S FOR A MASSIVE FINACIAL LOSS.
The solution is simple, give everyone what they want. Appoint a new experienced manager anyone but Keane. It would invigorate the club overnight and give us all reason for optimism. Season ticket sales would take off, the mood of the fans and those involved in the club would receive a boost. Under Keane it is all doom and gloom and will remain so, no matter what spin and hype he can conjure up. I have watched and read all of Keane’s interviews since relegation was confirmed, not once has he apologised to the fans, not once has he shouldered any blame, not once has he shown any remorse.
With Keane it is all ME ME ME , it is all about him and his self-preservation, the man is despicable, doesn’t fool me for one moment and never has. I have met and worked with a lot of Steve Keane’s in my time and it is all about them, no thought or consideration for others and is always RIGHT.
I don’t know how Rovers will rid themselves of Keane, but rid themselves they must.
Bradley Orr spoke well of Keane after the Wigan game but he would wouldn’t he, being a player of average ability he has his contract to think about and we all know that once you cross Keane you are dead meat.
Ventkatesh Rao, Balaji Rao and Mrs Desai must be bold and brave and rid themselves of Keane and appoint a new manager, if they can get someone else to work for them that is.
For my part I will not be hypocritical so as much as it hurts I will not step into Ewood Park again whilst Keane is there and I hope thousands of followers to this website will do the same, it is painful but possibly the only way to rid ourselves of the menace that is Keane.
Next season, if Kean is still at Ewood, I will reluctantly be getting my football fix at Accrington Stanley and Blackpool, see you all there!.
Reg
Footnote:
Keane said in a Sky TV interview on Tuesday evening following relegation that he was “going to follow West Ham’s example by retaining most of the playing staff and adding to it with experienced players, it has got West Ham into the play off final and almost automatic promotion”. Steve I have got news for you, the one flaw in your reasoning is that the manager of West Ham is SAM ALLARDYCE not STEVE KEANE, enough said!
www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

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makaveli96 says...
5:05pm Tue 8 May 12

Did you know that 85% of pie charts resemble Pacman?

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Reg Rover says...
5:08pm Tue 8 May 12

WILL VENKY’S SUE?
Following relegation to the Championship with the estimated loss of 90 million Pounds in eventual revenue, according to Premiership Chairman Richard Scudamore, will Mrs Anuradha Desai (above) and the Rao family sue their appointed advisor and mentor Jerome Anderson and his colleagues, including football pundit Charlie Nicholas, at his Kentaro sports agency? For misrepresentation, poor advice and malpractice.
When Venky’s purchased Blackburn Rovers in November 2010, on their own admission, they knew little if anything at all about English football or running a football club, let alone a premiership club, so they wisely appointed an experienced advisor.
Unfortunately for them instead of taking on board the then current Chairman John Williams and chief executive Tom Finn, two excellent administrators, they went outside the club and appointed Jerome Anderson. BIG MISTAKE.
Anderson’s advice has been catastrophic and he will be forever be known as ‘THE MAN WHO RUINED BLACKBURN ROVERS’.
He allegedly recommended the sacking of Sam Allardyce, a proven Premiership manager, and installed his own client Steve Keane in the manager’s chair with the help and cooperation of his colleague Sky Football pundit Charlie Nicholas. He then took charge of signing players including his own son. I won’t comment on his signings you have all seen them play.
Suffice to say the useless Keane at the beginning of the season was quoted as saying “Rovers had a better playing squad than last season and that Myles Anderson would become the next Chris Smalling”. I kid you not that is what he said, it is there on public record, and we wonder why we are relegated?
Attendances have plummeted, season ticket sales for next season are a none starter. Jobs at Ewood will be cut further. Players wages will be slashed and the team will be involved in another relegation scrap and tumble into DIVISION ONE.
SCAREMONGERING!! I have been accused of that before and look where we are, ignore me at this time at your PERIL.
All in all I think Mrs Desai would have a good case and sound reasons to take legal advice and sue the man who she placed her faith in, JEROME ANDESRON.
I hope she does, he deserves it.
Reg
Footnote:
I won’t even mention the damage Anderson and Keane have done to the VENKY BRAND NAME. That is for others to do, perhaps the Lancashire Telegraph would like to pursue some proper investigative journalism for a change.

www.regoftherovers.c
o.uk

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smellthecoffee says...
7:56pm Tue 8 May 12

Can the LET look into their archives and confirm whether or not Steve Kean is the worst manager in the club's 137 year history? I know Paul Ince had a 28% win rate before he was told to pack his bags and Kean's is now just 26% and likely to get worse after the Chelsea game. Also, has he got the worst professional playing career of any manager of any of the leagues (including non leagues)?? How many millions does he stand to get if Venky's terminate the contract they gave him when Rovers were bottom of the league??

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smellthecoffee says...
7:59pm Tue 8 May 12

Can the LET look into their archives and confirm whether or not Steve Kean is the worst manager in the club's 137 year history? I know Paul Ince had a 28% win rate before he was told to pack his bags and Kean's is now just 26% and likely to get worse after the Chelsea game. Also, has he got the worst professional playing career of any manager of any of the leagues (including non leagues)?? How many millions does he stand to get if Venky's terminate the contract they gave him when Rovers were bottom of the league??

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rovertakenmb says...
12:22am Wed 9 May 12

I prefer Dan Clough to RegoftheRovers but neither are as good as my favourite journalist... Garry Bushell.

www.rovertaken.co.uk

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