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Regional daily steps up bid to oust football boss

A North West daily has stepped up its “bold” campaign to force its local football club manager out of his job.

The Lancashire Telegraph first called on Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean to go last December – but despite the club subsequently being relegated from the premiership, he remains in post.

Now the newspaper has called on the club’s owners to take “decisive and immediate action” over Kean’s future amid conflicting reports about his role.

In what Sky Sports called “a bold move,” the paper ran a back back leader yesterday under the headline:  ‘End this absurd farce now’.


The opinion piece says uncertainty hanging over the Ewood Park outfit newly relegated from the Premier League has “turned the club into a laughing stock.” and it simply cannot go on any longer.”

It accuses owners Venky’s – led by chairwoman Anuradha Desai – of “dithering” and looking like “a management team that can’t manage.”

Editor Kevin Young said: “Last December, after much soul searching, we called for Kean to go. At the time we were echoing the feelings of the majority of Rovers fans.

“We, and more importantly, the fans’ protests were ignored and Rovers ended up being relegated.

“Fast forward to last weekend when it became clear that moves were afoot at the club to get rid of Kean –  only for the club’s owners to then go into dithering mode leaving the fans, the players and Kean himself in a state of paralysis. Poor management by any standards.

“The facts are that despite a decent start to the season in terms of results, the supporters are staying away in their thousands and many of those who ARE turning up are letting it be known that Kean must go.

“Our loyalty as a newspaper is to the fans. They are the club but they will stay away as long as Kean is at the helm.

“It’s pretty clear what Mrs Desai has to do to end this toxic situation.”

12 comments

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  • September 28, 2012 at 9:32 am
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    Fans see Mr Kean as a puppet figure. The trouble is, what will they make of the next man in the job if he is appointed by Venky’s?
    The club appears to be run by a TV pundit, Shebby Singh, who reached the heady heights of journey-man football in the Far East. He is buying players without Kean seeing them. Surely this is the problem. The next man in will admit he has less power, then the next man will do the same. If you want a comparison look at the way Hearts FC is run by Vladimir Romanov. However, Chelsea fans might recognise it too, the way Abramovich buys and sells players and managers.
    There used to be a football club at Ewood Park …

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  • September 28, 2012 at 9:52 am
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    For God’s sake go – and go now, Mr Kean. And, while you’re at it, take the Venkys with you. Between the four of you, you’ve brought disharmony and discontent to one of England’s oldest and greatest football clubs. Shame on you all.

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:03 am
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    As a general football fan, this campaign doesn’t sit well with me. Kean always seems very accommodating with media whenever interviewed. Yes, he’s had a tough spell there and the owners are running a bit of a circus. But he’s started this quite season well, hasn’t he? Give the guy a break and see how he gets on over the next few games. It’s too early to judge after just one poor home game last week. The Lanc Telegraph are also in danger of looking a bit stupid – what if Kean wins the league and comes good in the end? Editor Kevin Young will have egg all over his face.

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:23 am
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    It’s the fans making the club a laughing stock – not the managers or the owners. To boo a manager and chant ‘Kean out’ even at games when Rovers have won is beyond idiotic. The owners have made it clear they will not be bullied into anything and are digging their heels in – so this is no getting us anywhere. Put you money where your mouth is. If you are supporters then support the club. If not – then go away.

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:28 am
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    Latest ABC figures:
    Lancashire Telegraph 22,185 -9.4%
    If the Blackburn manager deserves the sack, perhaps the Telegraph editor should also be looking at his own position. Not a bright performance from him either

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:30 am
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    John: “the guy” was given a break last season and all he achieved was relegation. You might be a general football fan but you know absolutely nothing of the situation at Ewood Park.

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:32 am
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    Stepping up? Just last week Andy Cryer wrote a “Keans here, might as well get over it” piece. The LT is bandwagon jumping and slowly at that.

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  • September 28, 2012 at 10:46 am
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    The paper accuses Venky’s of “dithering” and looking like “a management team that can’t manage.”

    Sure they’re not confusing Venky’s with Newsquest? :)

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  • September 28, 2012 at 11:13 am
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    If Newsquest ran the club, they’d sack half the players, make the rest play 30 miles away – and then wonder why results weren’t going well

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  • September 28, 2012 at 7:46 pm
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    The power of the pess eh!,
    can the newspaper man let us all know what experience he has in the football world other than knocking managers /players etc.
    ER! WHO’S ON THE FIELD OF PLAY KICKING THE BALL FOR 90 MINUTES?

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  • September 30, 2012 at 3:41 pm
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    It’s unfair to criticise Kevin Young in this manner. Telegapah circulation has only fallen by 25,000 since he became editor. Compared to some other newspapers, that’s a pretty good performance.

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