January

What an explosive start to 2011.

The year is only days old when Venky’s announce they are attempting to sign Brazilian ace Ronaldinho. David Beckham and Juan Roman Riquelme are also mentioned as they look for a ‘marquee signing’.

The month ends with no arrival of a big name but with the loan signings of Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones and the permanent captures of Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina. Steve Kean also signs a deal until 2013.

On the field, novice boss Kean shows signs of promise after guiding Rovers to home wins over Liverpool – resulting in Roy Hodgson’s sacking – QPR and West Brom. All the month’s away games are lost. Kean signs a contract keeping him at club until 2013 and John Jensen is appointed as his assistant.

FEBRUARY

Just when Rovers fans start to think Venky’s could make a success of the club, it is revealed popular chairman John Williams has left the club – and he is still be replaced.

Co-owner Anuradha Desai came to her first game with her family as Rovers lost 1-0 at Spurs and it turned out she had spent that day discussing Williams’ departure with him.

Rovers lost a thrilling game 4-3 at Wigan and were heavily beaten at Aston Villa. Rovers’ only point in February was a 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle.

MARCH

A surprisingly quiet month for all things Rovers off the field but on the pitch it was another disappointing one as Rovers slipped further into relegation trouble.

A controversial penalty gave Fulham a late 3-2 win at Craven Cottage while Kean’s position looked in real danger after falling 2-0 behind early on at home to Blackpool. A stirring come back earned Rovers a point but left most fans fearing the drop.

Kean revealed that Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy would be a summer transfer target.

APRIL

Venky’s risk the wrath of Blackburn Rovers fans by insisting Kean will be manager next season no matter what the result of the club’s Premier League relegation scrap.

On the field, Rovers were given a boost by an expected goalless draw at Arsenal, although a 1-1 home draw against Birmingham City was a disappointment.

Defeats against Everton and Manchester City followed before Martin Olsson’s first half strike was enough to beat Bolton and move Rovers three points clear of the drop zone with just three games left.

MAY

Rovers travelled to West Ham knowing a win would all but secure their top flight status for another season but, despite taking the lead, had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

They then drew 1-1 with Manchester United, with a point enough for United to secure the Premier League title but leave Rovers in danger of the drop going into the last game of the season.

It was a dramatic afternoon on the final day of the season in the battle to beat the drop but a stunning first half display, with Rovers racing into a 3-0 lead at Wolves, eased the nerves.

The hosts hit back and despite losing 3-2 they also stayed up.

JUNE

The close season had barely started when Rovers fans got the news they had all been expecting. Phil Jones had agreed a £16.5m deal to move to Manchester United.

The transfer turned into a saga as Venky’s attempted to get more out of the champions, despite a release clause set at that price.

El-Hadji Diouf was told he was not in the manager’s first team plans after reporting weeks late for pre season training, while Kean himself spent five days in India as he plotted Rovers transfer business.

Off the field Tom Finn left the club as managing director.

JULY

A lack of activity in the transfer market raises concerns among Rovers fans, as owners Venky’s continue talks with an impatient bank.

Kean says he has promised a ‘sizeable budget’ but the £2m capture of Serbian international midfielder Radosav Petrovic was his first signing at the end of the month.

Argentine striker Hugo Pavone was ready to sign for the club but the transfer was vetoed by Venky’s at the last minute despite an agreement being in place, while talks to sign Cedric Mongongu collapsed due to visa problems.

Nikola Kalinic’s Rovers future was brought to an end and he eventually moved to Dnipro after not traveling on Rovers’ pre season tour.

Venky’s deny rumours they were about to put the club up for sale, while the club’s pre season trip to India was postponed after a bomb blast in Mumbai.

AUGUST

Blackburn Rovers announce they have turned down several lucrative sponsorship deals to have the Prince’s Trust put on the front of their shirts for the coming season.

On the transfer front, Real Madrid legend Raul turns down a move to Ewood Park while the club also fail in a move for Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic and American defender George John.

On transfer deadline day, Kean signs Yakubu from Everton for an estimated £2.5m and Scott Dann for in the region of £7m. Earlier in the month Rovers signed David Goodwillie, Simon Vukcevic, Bruno Ribeiro and Jordan Slew.

Rovers lost their Premier League opener at home to Wolves and followed that up with defeats at Aston Villa and at home to Everton, having missed two penalties.

SEPTEMBER

Steve Kean tells Rovers fans the time has now come to judge him but they end the month with two league defeats out of three and near the relegation zone.

He did enjoy a shock 4-3 win over Arsenal, although two own goals from the visitors helped Rovers to the first league win of the season. Rovers progressed to the Carling Cup fourth round with a 3-2 home win over Leyton Orient.

Rovers fans started organised protests against the manager and the owners this month, protests which have been in evidence ever since.

Off the field, assistant boss John Jensen was surprisingly sacked with even Kean admitting he was unsure why he had departed, while the Blackburn End stand is renamed after club great Ronnie Clayton.

OCTOBER

Blackburn Rovers become the first Premier League club to play a match in India. They beat Pune FC 3-0 with Balaji Rao telling the Indian press, Kean is a ‘brilliant manager’.

There are few signs of that on the field though as Rovers are hammered 4-0 at home to Manchester City , lose at home to Spurs and draw at QPR and Norwich City, after throwing away a two goal lead.

Rovers do progress to the Carling Cup quarter finals after a thrilling 4-3 victory at home to Newcastle in extra time, after again losing a two-goal lead.

Former Chelsea coach Paul Clement is appointed as Kean’s new assistant boss.

NOVEMBER

The protests increase against owners Venky’s and boss Steve Kean as concern grows about the direction the club appear to be heading.

Wayne Wild, from main sponsor WEC Group, meets with senior Rovers officials over his fears, while council leaders also voice their frustrations at the manner the club is being run.

Supporters hire a plane to fly over Ewood during Rovers’ defeat to Chelsea with a banner calling for ‘ Steve Kean out’ while a dismal defeat at Stoke and a draw at Wigan leaves fans fearing the worst.

Kean sparks outrage among Rovers fans after saying he forfeited the Carling Cup quarter final defeat to Cardiff, due to the league games coming up.

A Qatar business considers making a bid for Blackburn Rovers, Venky’s are adamant they are not for sale.

DECEMBER

Rovers started the month well, with Yakubu scoring all four goals in their 4-2 victory over Swansea at Ewood Park. A 2-1 reverse at Sunderland quickly brought them back down to earth.

Rovers go into two back to back home games against West Brom under immense pressure to stop their slide but 2-1 defeats in both games leave the club favourites for relegation.

The Lancashire Telegraph and Blackburn MP Jack Straw both call for Kean to be replaced and for Venky’s to start running the club as they should.

Rovers earn a shock 1-1 draw at Anfield on Boxing Day but Premier League survival still looks a long way off, with the squad looking horrifically short due to injuries and poor signings in January.