Blackburn Rovers’ long-awaited takeover by Indian “poultry giants” Venky’s finally went through last week as a £43m deal was concluded to make Rovers the first Indian-owned EPL team.

And the new regime got off to a winning start last Sunday, with the Rao brothers Venkateshwara and Balaji, who drove the deal, watching on as Morten Gamst Pedersen bagged a brace in Rovers 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

It was the fourth consecutive time Rovers had scored twice in a match.

 

The Raos have taken on Rovers’ £20m debts as well as paying £23m for the 99.8% of the club previously owned by the family trust of former benefactor Jack Walker, whose millions helped Rovers to the EPL title in 1995.

The new owners have committed to maintaining Walker’s “legacy,” although they have stirred early controversy by not ruling out “re-branding” Rovers Ewood Park stadium as a way of funding the club.

Venky’s chairman, Anuradha J Desai, sister to Venkateshwara and Balaji, said: “We will absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best-run clubs in the Premier League.”

Rovers supremo, Sam Allardyce, said: “I am excited – I would think a new owner of a club would only want to take it forward.”

But Allardyce attempted to moderate expectations, adding: “People will go off mentioning we’re after Torres or Drogba but in terms of investment it will be relatively moderate.”

Rovers face the daunting trip to Manchester United in the EPL this Saturday.