Comment: The aimlessly stumbling chicken that said it all about the state of Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Comment: The aimlessly stumbling chicken that said it all about the state of Blackburn Rovers
11:06pm Monday 7th May 2012 in News
By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter
The chicken released on to the pitch at the start of the Rovers v Wigan match.
IT was the most unwitting protester of the night, but somehow the chicken that darted on to the Ewood Park pitch draped in a Blackburn Rovers flag said it all.
No further words were required. It had come to this. Eighteen months of frustration under Venky’s rule summed up as the chicken stumbled around aimlessly, clearly bewildered and unsure of its surroundings.
Fans cheered that symbolic gesture, after the chicken had been smuggled into the ground and released from the Darwen End early in last night’s match against Wigan Athletic, but by the end any humour remaining had gone.
Only anger was left, at both Venky’s and manager Steve Kean, as relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.
For supporters, this is their club and their town, and with top flight status went part of Blackburn’s identity, following a 1-0 defeat. Eleven years in the top flight had come crashing down in such unnecessary fashion.
Rarely has the gulf between fans and club felt quite so wide.
The pre-match warm-up was greeted by the drone of a plane circling overhead with the message ‘In Venky’s We Trust – Burnley SU’.
The plane had been hired by Burnley fans, 21 years after Rovers supporters had sent a mocking message to Turf Moor via the same method when their rivals missed out on promotion in the Fourth Division play-offs.
Chants of ‘Kean out, Venky’s out’ came before kick-off from the home supporters in the Darwen End, who also held banners in protest.
The chants against Kean intensified as the match started, while many rose to their feet as fans sang ‘Stand up if you hate Venky’s’. Kean stood unmoved on the touchline.
Only six minutes had elapsed when the chicken made its entry – the second time such a protest had taken place this season.
Swift work was required from Yakubu and Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to remove it from the pitch.
“We’re only here for the chicken,” fans sung, before chanting the name of Jack Walker.
There was clear frustration from the stands as Rovers struggled to keep possession, with chants for Sam Allardyce – controversially sacked as manager soon after the arrival of Venky’s – as well as sidelined Michel Salgado and the now departed Ryan Nelsen. Frozen out, Salgado had decided not to attend the game.
The half time whistle brought boos of dissatisfaction, while the start of the second half was greeted by a supporter running on to the pitch from the Darwen End and throwing his season ticket in the direction of the dug-outs.
“We want our Rovers back,” fans sung.
The protests against Venky’s and Kean did not relent, and by the hour mark most of the 26,144 crowd was joining in.
Fans got behind their team late on, as they sought the winner that would have kept their faint survival hopes alive.
But it did not come and the ‘Kean out’ chants returned before Antolin Alcaraz’s 86th-minute goal effectively sealed Rovers’ fate.
Many just got up and left, others continued their protests against Kean and Venky’s.
As relegation was confirmed at the final whistle, some threw tennis balls on to the pitch bearing the words ‘Kean out’ and around 30 protesters rushed on to the playing surface and towards the Rovers boss.
Kean lingered for a few seconds, ignoring the advice of security, before disappearing down the tunnel.
Many had seen this coming. One of the worst nights in the club’s recent history had arrived.
Comments(27)
Stone Island.
says...
11:21pm Mon 7 May 12
Venky's OUT! Venky's rent boy OUT! Anderson OUT! Black OUT! Hunt OUT! Silk OUT! Orr OUT!
Season ticket purchasers: Have a word with yourself!
Blackburn-Chicken
says...
11:35pm Mon 7 May 12
ckburnRoversChicken
Bazzalona
says...
12:02am Tue 8 May 12
basherb
says...
12:03am Tue 8 May 12
Rishtonian
says...
12:12am Tue 8 May 12
Will not be back till this shower have sacked Kean and either invested in the club or Fecked of
rovertakenmb
says...
12:45am Tue 8 May 12
www.rovertaken.co.uk
Mr-Blueanwhites
says...
12:54am Tue 8 May 12
glm1970
says...
1:10am Tue 8 May 12
Gennoe1
says...
1:43am Tue 8 May 12
Tony Downunder
says...
2:06am Tue 8 May 12
Blackburn-Chicken wrote:Rest In Chicken Pieces!
Please like me: www.facebook.com/Bla ckburnRoversChicken
Tony Downunder
says...
2:12am Tue 8 May 12
Now we're buried, get yer shovels ready!
Hairboy
says...
3:35am Tue 8 May 12
Roverthere
says...
7:38am Tue 8 May 12
jackmetickler
says...
9:04am Tue 8 May 12
More of the same for the close/next season.
Same old spin and bull.
Whilst I admire loyalty; you really do have to have a word with yourself if you buy a season ticket and line these muppets pockets.
There is only one protest this lot will take notice of;
When we all refuse to go until they gone!
doolish
says...
10:18am Tue 8 May 12
It was the best of times it was the worst of times.
The Blocked One
says...
11:24am Tue 8 May 12
And ? Is it over ? What about the next 18 months, and the next, and the next ? These fuck1ng p1llocks aren't going anywhere. That's why we are where we are.
The Blocked One
says...
11:30am Tue 8 May 12
maltese blue n white wrote:He doesn't need another job, he's still got this fuck1ng one, and as he's said already 10 times since the end of the match, he's 110% certain he will still be here on Doomsday.
KEAN YOU ARE A C@NT WITH NO CV.. I HOPE YOU NEVER GET A JOB IN FOOTBALL AGAIN...
VENKY'S ... THIEVING ASSET STRIPPING B@STARDS WITH NO CLUE NO MORALS AND NO FERKIN MONEY.
ANDERSON... JUST A C@NT... OH YES AND YOUR SON TOO... JUST A BUNCH OF CROOKS... W@NKERS ALL... NOW SUE ME... ALL THIEVING LYING ASSET STRIPPING B@ STARDS OUT OF BRFC.. And furthermore..as my previous comment has been removed.. i am on a pittance compared to your wage.. but at least i do my job both honestly and well... Even your wife must recognise what a piece of sh1t you are... but she will stay with you for 50% of the Venky's payoff then move on to a real man...
Gone84
says...
12:41pm Tue 8 May 12
Stone Island. wrote:So whats so "absolute quality"about a blue and white chicken being thrown onto the pitch........**** offensive in my book.Was it Burlney fans or Venkys themselves who planned this one.You have a proper word pal.
Whoever was responsible for the chicken stunt, I salute you. Absolute quality.
Venky's OUT! Venky's rent boy OUT! Anderson OUT! Black OUT! Hunt OUT! Silk OUT! Orr OUT!
Season ticket purchasers: Have a word with yourself!
Markr
says...
3:34pm Tue 8 May 12
burnroversbeenrelega
tedyet.com/
hassy rvr
says...
4:22pm Tue 8 May 12
submin01
says...
5:40pm Tue 8 May 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
8:30pm Tue 8 May 12
accy lad and proud
says...
9:22pm Tue 8 May 12
Tony Downunder wrote:Arte Et Labore !!! more like, **** & Levitate !!!!!! Nuggett the chicken made my day as well as Kean the Nuggett !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought it was "Arte Et Labore" This year seems like "Roll Over & Die". Now we're buried, get yer shovels ready!
Stone Island.
says...
1:00am Wed 9 May 12
Michael@ClitheroeSinProbably ended up in a curry at the Khyber.
ce58 wrote:
Does anyone know what happened to the chicken? I'm hoping it was handed to the RSPCA
Stone Island.
says...
1:07am Wed 9 May 12
Gone84 wrote:It didn't look like a blue and white chicken to me. It looked like a regular brown colour. Where you tripping?
Stone Island. wrote:So whats so "absolute quality"about a blue and white chicken being thrown onto the pitch........**** offensive in my book.Was it Burlney fans or Venkys themselves who planned this one.You have a proper word pal.
Whoever was responsible for the chicken stunt, I salute you. Absolute quality.
Venky's OUT! Venky's rent boy OUT! Anderson OUT! Black OUT! Hunt OUT! Silk OUT! Orr OUT!
Season ticket purchasers: Have a word with yourself!
hugofakenham
says...
10:51pm Wed 9 May 12
Gennoe1 wrote:my thoughts exactly : that fence has been straddled for so long it's getting burnished.
"Telegraph in strongly worded report shock!"Too little and too bloody late! Chris i agree with everything you say on tonights game,but pray god tell me,why have you hid behind the "They wont reply to us,what can we do stance for so long? Did it not occurr to you that, just maybe the lying,thieving b******s might just be hiding something? In my opinion you have let the fans,the town and yourselves down badly,you are in a position to publicise our plight and need to decide with whom your allegiances lie.
Reporters ? No balls !!
French Rover says...
11:18pm Mon 7 May 12