Berg: There could be dark days ahead for Rovers

HENNING Berg fears Blackburn Rovers have more ‘dark days’ ahead – unless Venky’s dramatically change the values and principles with which they have run the club.

The former Rovers defender admits there was a sense of inevitability about last season’s Premier League relegation and warns there is no quick fix ahead of the forthcoming Championship campaign.

Ahead of the fixture list being released today, Berg believes any Rovers recovery needs more than just new players – he insists a return to the club’s old values is essential to unite a now divided club.

As the fixtures are released today, Rovers fans and most inside Ewood Park are still in the dark about Venky’s plans for the future.

Club secretary Anthony Bloch is understood to have become the latest casualty of their chaotic regime and – with unrest around the town growing – Berg has called for the owners to start treating the club in the manner it deserves.

He said: “It is very difficult for me to see how Blackburn can expect to go up next season with how they went down last season.

“You look at the situation between the owners, the manager, the players and the fans, and it is very difficult to see a club going in the right direction together.

“To stand any chance of promotion the owners have to change everything about the way they have run the club so far.

“There is no doubt none of the decisions they have taken have worked, none of them. Can they run the club from India? I would say they can’t and either need to come here all the time or bring someone in to run the club.

“Everyone knows how the club used to be run and these values need to be brought back. The club needs to start treating people with respect again and only then can the club be happy again.

“That is the first thing that needs to be done. The values and principles that used to exist need to be brought back.”

Berg, who won the Premier League and the Worthington Cup in two successful spells at Ewood Park, still follows Rovers’ fortunes from his native Norway.

And, having helped the club out of the Championship back in 2001, Berg warns efforts in the transfer market alone aren’t good enough to earn an instant return.

“If the owners can start running the club properly then of course the next issue is the funds available for players,” he said.

“When we got promoted back into the Premier League, we had the money to keep and attract the quality needed to get back up. We were not fantastic tactically, we were just better player wise.

“I am surprised to see there have been no decisions or statement about what their plans are yet. Things have to start very quickly.

“Only when all this is done will the club start coming back together. It is down to the owners to change the mood, not the supporters.”

Club matriarch Anuradha Desai and boss Steve Kean will know they face a tough battle in winning the frustrated Blackburn public around – after 18 months of almost continual decline.

Asian pundit Shebby Singh is set to be unveiled as a global advisor imminently, while PR man Paul Agnew has been promoted to general manager, but Berg, 42, remains unconvinced Venky’s will silence their critics.

He said: “I hope the owners and manager prove everyone wrong. I hope they do start running the club properly and it recovers.

“You look at the last two years though and you have to question it. They haven’t a great track record to say the least.”

Comments(27)

Searcher says...
8:08am Mon 18 Jun 12

Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Another non-Blackburn fan with nothing better to do.

Mattyblue says...
8:17am Mon 18 Jun 12

'Another Trampburn leg-end'.

Aye, another multiple title winnerr, still I suppose we can't compete with the 'Padiham Prowler' for a quote.

Jack Herer says...
8:19am Mon 18 Jun 12

One thing I do know is that Henning won't be employed by the Venkys. He's far too realistic, sorry I mean negative, for them.

Shame as we could do with some honesty round the club. It would make a nice change to the shameless parasitic leeching we currently have parading as management.

Henning Berg instead of Colin Hendry anyone?

Lancs - pensioner says...
8:21am Mon 18 Jun 12

Apart from the thick Dingles who keep coming on here Berg is stating what we all know and I thank him for coming out and saying it unlike some of the players who are there now (Dunn/Orr) the owners are either corrupt or just plain stupid, keeping on a man whoses record is a disgrace smells of pure corruption to me.
Can't wait for the fixtures today, Peterbourgh away then an empty stadium at the first home match.

Bring Venkys down

Bring Kean down

No to ST and any Merchandice

We can beat these scum!

hasslem hasslem says...
8:40am Mon 18 Jun 12

well said Henning Berg - at least some ex-players have some balls to speak out and are not hypnotised by "dark forces".
.
only criticism of article is the headline "could"...there is no could and berg does not imply such
.
No Plan + No Communication + No Clue = No Hope

Bangkok Rover says...
8:58am Mon 18 Jun 12

“When we got promoted back into the Premier League, we had the money to keep and attract the quality needed to get back up. We were not fantastic tactically, we were just better player wise."

A dig at Souey there, they fell out over tactics I remember.

Good advice from Ice Berg, surely we'd be better off with him as advisor instead of Shebby!

RUinsane says...
9:09am Mon 18 Jun 12

Cha'mone MF wrote:
oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
On the subject of parents the locals saved a fortune in Dumpburn yesterday on account of most of them not knowing who their father is thus not having to buy a present.
Unlike in Bumley where everyone buys there brother a pint for fathers day.

thresholdweller says...
9:27am Mon 18 Jun 12

I'm not sure about "with unrest around the town growing"? It couldn't grow any further. Isn't there an angry resignation? Still Henning sums it up accurately - it is about values.
Anyway, Ipswich away. Venkys were unavailable for comment.

MikeD says...
9:56am Mon 18 Jun 12

Berg was asked a couple of months ago on TV here in Norway if he would like to manage Rovers. His reply was no chance under the current circumstances.

I can't see anyone else with half a footballing brain agreeing to take the job either, which means unfortunately that we are stuck with Kean for as long as we are stuck with Venkys.

vicn1956 says...
9:58am Mon 18 Jun 12

There COULD be dark days ahead?

Chico! says...
10:28am Mon 18 Jun 12

RUinsane wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote: Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
On the subject of parents the locals saved a fortune in Dumpburn yesterday on account of most of them not knowing who their father is thus not having to buy a present.
Unlike in Bumley where everyone buys there brother a pint for fathers day.
Quality!

Top class dinglestomping.

Dukes says...
11:05am Mon 18 Jun 12

the day venkys ran the club right would be a bonus but cant see it now there need to sell up for good.

J.C - Rishton says...
11:53am Mon 18 Jun 12

Searcher wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Another non-Blackburn fan with nothing better to do.
I have just reported this post and complained about Cha,mone MF and his posts.
.
He comes on this site simply to ABUSE Rovers fans.
.
He was the FIRST person on here and called anyone and everyone who is a Rovers fan "fatherless" - why should we put up with this mindless drivel.
.
I urge ALL other Rovers fans on here to complain about this post (just click the "report this post link" and ask for this mindless idiot to be banned, once and for all !

J.C - Rishton says...
12:01pm Mon 18 Jun 12

oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
I agree with what you say about this idiot but don't just reply to him (thats what he wants) - complain to the site moderator and lets get him banned - he is simply out to try to disrupt every single Rovers article and debate.
.
Its time to make the LT live up to their legal responsabilities - lets get them to BAN these mindless Burnley IDIOTS who disrupt our discusion pages on a daily basis.
.
I for 1 will make a complaint EVERY day about Cha'mone MF if he continues to post vile, mindless rubbish until they ban him and I ask ALL regular Rovers posters to do the same - It takes 1 min to do and if you do it enough we will be rid of these idiots once and for all.

Bangkok Rover says...
1:29pm Mon 18 Jun 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
I agree with what you say about this idiot but don't just reply to him (thats what he wants) - complain to the site moderator and lets get him banned - he is simply out to try to disrupt every single Rovers article and debate.
.
Its time to make the LT live up to their legal responsabilities - lets get them to BAN these mindless Burnley IDIOTS who disrupt our discusion pages on a daily basis.
.
I for 1 will make a complaint EVERY day about Cha'mone MF if he continues to post vile, mindless rubbish until they ban him and I ask ALL regular Rovers posters to do the same - It takes 1 min to do and if you do it enough we will be rid of these idiots once and for all.
Let's hope Cha'mone MF employs some self-censorship instead of being removed entirely. The odd soup-stain-obsessed comment used to make me chuckle.

Hippocroccapig says...
1:59pm Mon 18 Jun 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
I agree with what you say about this idiot but don't just reply to him (thats what he wants) - complain to the site moderator and lets get him banned - he is simply out to try to disrupt every single Rovers article and debate.
.
Its time to make the LT live up to their legal responsabilities - lets get them to BAN these mindless Burnley IDIOTS who disrupt our discusion pages on a daily basis.
.
I for 1 will make a complaint EVERY day about Cha'mone MF if he continues to post vile, mindless rubbish until they ban him and I ask ALL regular Rovers posters to do the same - It takes 1 min to do and if you do it enough we will be rid of these idiots once and for all.
Another day - another Blackburn fan with a protest

bburnrover says...
2:43pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Well said Henning but the majority of fans knew that last year and it has become progressivly worse.

There is definately something sinister about the current situation with no season tickets on sale and the majority of the lubs board wanting Kean to leave.

Why is Kean still here? What are the benefits to the club? Does Kean have financial support from outside influences? Is it true we cannot dismiss him due to external unwritten agreements?

Come the Revolution says...
4:06pm Mon 18 Jun 12

WTF is a "Global Advisor"?. Ex Kuala Lumpur FC star joins Venkys' FC. You couldn't make this scenario up. We'll all be having a laugh in a few years time when BRFC returns.

Cumbrian Blue says...
4:07pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Let's not criticise ANY former players especially higher profile players for coming out and saying what they thnk in a sensible and balanced way. Well done Henning. Thank you.

PS Thank you for your contributions on the field over the years ~ you were always a class act.

sonny says...
4:09pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Henning would be a great shout for manager(if brfc began to exist in the realworld!), ht et the wold alight as a manager at the teams hes managed but he has show he knows what the jobs all about add t that his status amongst rovers fans and his knowledge ofthe club,he could be jut the man to get us fighting(metaphorica
lly speaking! again.

ossyrover1 says...
6:15pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Hippocroccapig wrote:
J.C - Rishton wrote:
oldblue wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Isn't this supposed to be a forum where adults can comment and exchange views about the Rovers. Do your parents know that you are using the computer to type rubbish? And shouldn't you be at school anyway?
I agree with what you say about this idiot but don't just reply to him (thats what he wants) - complain to the site moderator and lets get him banned - he is simply out to try to disrupt every single Rovers article and debate.
.
Its time to make the LT live up to their legal responsabilities - lets get them to BAN these mindless Burnley IDIOTS who disrupt our discusion pages on a daily basis.
.
I for 1 will make a complaint EVERY day about Cha'mone MF if he continues to post vile, mindless rubbish until they ban him and I ask ALL regular Rovers posters to do the same - It takes 1 min to do and if you do it enough we will be rid of these idiots once and for all.
Another day - another Blackburn fan with a protest
another day another bunleh dole dosser commenting on rovers stories.

Rover Pete says...
7:08pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Has Andy Cryer or anyone else actually seen Seve Kean since the end of last Season?
We keep hearing about him and we talk as if he is still there - but is he? Could the Telgraph not send a reporter to watch Brockhall and see if he is actually urn up for work?

How many inches from the ground? says...
8:39pm Mon 18 Jun 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
Searcher wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Another non-Blackburn fan with nothing better to do.
I have just reported this post and complained about Cha,mone MF and his posts.
.
He comes on this site simply to ABUSE Rovers fans.
.
He was the FIRST person on here and called anyone and everyone who is a Rovers fan "fatherless" - why should we put up with this mindless drivel.
.
I urge ALL other Rovers fans on here to complain about this post (just click the "report this post link" and ask for this mindless idiot to be banned, once and for all !
Oh dear oh dear! You must feel so embarrased with yourself having posted this comment?

I can see you now walking home with your football under your arm sulking having thrown your dummy across the playground.

This site is littered with banter between Burnley and Rovers fans and rarely does anybody start crying like you. There's a rovers fan called "cold side of the pillow" who has come out with some horrendous vulgar abuse towards Burnley fans but we never saw anybody whinging on your level.

It's Blackburn and Burnley mate, there will always be healthy banter, just have a look at the Burnley fixtures story, the banter is being exchanged heartily over there.

Grow up and grow a pair you big soft tree hugging wet lettuce.

happycyclist says...
9:11pm Mon 18 Jun 12

Get rid of the club secretary and bring in a 'global advisor'? Jeez.

Roverthere says...
5:59am Tue 19 Jun 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
Searcher wrote:
Cha'mone MF wrote:
Another Trampburn leg-end predicting that the end is nigh for the fatherless.
Another non-Blackburn fan with nothing better to do.
I have just reported this post and complained about Cha,mone MF and his posts.
.
He comes on this site simply to ABUSE Rovers fans.
.
He was the FIRST person on here and called anyone and everyone who is a Rovers fan "fatherless" - why should we put up with this mindless drivel.
.
I urge ALL other Rovers fans on here to complain about this post (just click the "report this post link" and ask for this mindless idiot to be banned, once and for all !
Agreed. Let's have meaningful discusson regarding BRFC without this mindless stuff blocking our pages!

timeforcommonsense says...
11:05am Tue 19 Jun 12

It is true, there are dark days ahead, probably even darker than those we have already experienced and it will only continue to get worse whilst there are people willing to finance Venkys. I say people as opposed to fans because fans want what is best for the club and what is best for the club is the removal of Venkys, we will only achieve this by forcing them out, we will only force them out by starving their income from the fans. STOP FINANCING THIS CORRUPT AND INEPT REGIME.

oldblue says...
5:04pm Tue 19 Jun 12

timeforcommonsense wrote:
It is true, there are dark days ahead, probably even darker than those we have already experienced and it will only continue to get worse whilst there are people willing to finance Venkys. I say people as opposed to fans because fans want what is best for the club and what is best for the club is the removal of Venkys, we will only achieve this by forcing them out, we will only force them out by starving their income from the fans. STOP FINANCING THIS CORRUPT AND INEPT REGIME.
I could not agree more. Anyone who attends a Rover's match under the current owner/management regime merely provide encouragement and income. We must force their hand by maintaining a blanket refusal to attend. Protests in the form of marches and message carrying aircraft etc have failed utterly. Empty terraces will be something that cannot be ignored for long. This will be the first season for many years that I have not bought a season ticket, but I see it as the only way. Nothing to do with not being a "true fan", just common sense. We need a total boycott to save our club from the cynical bunch that currently have control.

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