• Shebby Singh called Rovers winger Pedersen a
'pensioner'
• 'My blunt honesty sometimes upsets people,' says Singh
Shebby Singh has issued a public apology to Steve Kean and Morten Gamst Pedersen after saying that
the Blackburn Rovers
manager would be sacked if he lost three games and calling the
30-year-old winger a "pensioner".
Speaking at an open meeting organised by the Blackburn Rovers
Action Group, the club's global adviser Singh told supporters Kean
would be sacked if he lost three games in a row but it was the
personal comments directed at Pedersen that caused the most
upset.
Kean and Pedersen were so furious with Singh that the Malaysian
was forced to apologise to both men at a squad meeting. In
addition, he deemed it necessary to make a public apology through
the Lancashire Telegraph.
Singh had said Kean's promises of a strong promotion challenge
had to be taken "with a pinch of salt", while he likened Pedersen,
who has been at the club for eight years, to a "pensioner".
He said: "I would like to extend an apology to Steve Kean
because some things were said on Saturday. I think they would have
hurt Steve Kean's feelings and for that I sincerely apologise.
"I would also like to apologise to Morten Gamst Pedersen for
what was said. There are no excuses and Morten is a great
character.
"My blunt honesty sometimes upsets people and sometimes rubs
people up the wrong way. I am making efforts to bring the club back
to the fans and in trying to do that I have gone too far. I am
trying to find the middle ground."
Blackburn's Indian owners, Venky's, appointed the 51-year-old
former Malaysia defender in June and one of Singh's tasks is to act
as a go-between for Venky's and Kean. He has a reputation for
forthright views earned while working as a football pundit for
Asian TV.
The Blackburn striker David Goodwillie has been called up by
Scotland for Wednesday's friendly against Australia at Easter Road.
Goodwillie scored in his last appearance – a 3-1 Euro 2012
qualifying defeat to Spain in October.
The 23-year-old moved to Ewood Park from Dundee United in August
2011, scoring two goals in 20 Premier League appearances, although
he started only four games.
