Blackburn Rovers’ owners Venky’s, have courted widespread disapproval by sacking manager Sam Allardyce and appointing first-team coach Steve Kean until the summer, despite the 43-year-old Scots total lack of experience.

The decision was not surprising as Kean is a client of football agency SEM, who have been major advisers to Venky’s since the takeover process began.

 

And although Venky’s chairwoman Arunadha Desai has denied it, it seems transfer policy was a major difference between themselves and Allardyce.

She said: “We feel we need to take the club up in the league and grow. We want Blackburn Rovers to be fourth or fifth.

And in a damning indictment of Allardyce, she added: “We wanted good football. We wanted the games to be interesting.”

There was considerable disquiet within the club, as Venky’s had made a documented promise not to change the management team. Well-respected club chairman John Williams and captain Christopher Samba both publicly considered their positions.

New boss Kean decided to relieve Samba of the club captaincy but expects the player to stay, while Williams has subsequently vowed to carry on in the interests of club unity.”

Blackburn visit Sunderland in the EPL on New Years’ Day, buoyed by Kean’s first win under, 3-1 at West Brom, after a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Stoke earlier this week.

Keeper Paul Robinson is out for three weeks after injuring his calf against West Brom, whilst Samba may return after an ankle injury. Striker Niko Kalinic and defender Michel Salgado are suspended.