VENKY’S BOSS: Anuradha J Desai (Mrs Rovers) in a
new attack on Big Sam. 'This team should be capable of finishing
fifth to seventh and not always be fighting for
survival'
Nothing summed up the
bizarre state of affairs at Blackburn Rovers
better than the main item on
the club's own website on Wednesday, featuring rapper Akon and
former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis opening a fast-food
restaurant in the Indian city of Pune.
Apart from the fact it belongs to new Blackburn owners
Venky's, the only relevance to the Premier League club was a
photograph of Akon holding a Rovers shirt and a passing reference
to his friendship with El Hadji Diouf.
Heaven knows what the late Jack Walker would have made of
it all.
Another day of mixed messages from the Premier
League's first Indian owners about who might succeed Sam Allardyce
- and when - brought another unnecessarily brutal assessment of the
axed Rovers boss by Venky's chairwoman Anuradha Desai, and a denial
that their advisers Kentaro are calling the shots over transfer
policy.
That was one of the main reasons behind Allardyce's
departure, with the 56-year-old boss unhappy at being recommended
player s attached to Kentaro's business partner SEM. The situation
is now believed to have attracted the interest of the Premier
League.
However, Desai defended Venky's over the accusations of
interference and then came out fighting with a fierce attack on
Allardyce's own transfer record during his two years in
charge.
Rover and out: Blackburn denied they will appoint
Diego Maradona
'This team should be capable of finishing fifth to
seventh and it should not always be fighting for survival,' she
said.
'I don't think this team deserves that. In that, Sam
didn't fit in. My father once told me that out of 10 decisions you
must get at least seven right. You can get two or three wrong -
we're not gods.
'But to get nine or 10 wrong is not good and things have
been going wrong with transfers, that's a fact.
'Kentaro are our main consultants but Sam had the final
call. At no time would any decisions have been taken with respect
of buying or selling players unless sanctioned by the manager. But
we didn't even get as far as discussing any names with him. We
certainly don't have an exclusive deal with Kentaro.'
After initially indicating that first-team coach Steve
Kean would be in charge for up to two months until a permanent
appointment could be made, Desai said Venky's were looking at an
Englishman who had played in the Premier League and that 'the name
will be finalised in 10 days'.
In another interview she said the process could take 'at
least three months or maybe two-and-a-half months', and then
elsewhere said that if Kean does well 'there is no doubt in our
mind he would be the manager forever'.
In fact, the only certainty is that it will not be
Argentina legend Diego Maradona.
'No, no, no, he's not being considered now or ever,' she
insisted.
'There is nothing we are having to do with
Maradona.'
Venky's announced on Wednesday that they are building a
football academy in Pune. They are also believed to be considering
X Factor-style auditions for local youngsters in Blackburn, which
has a large Asian population, in the hope of seeing an Indian play
for Rovers.
Chicken superstars: Lennox Lewis (R) opens the Pune
restaurant in India with rapper Akon and Blackburn's new owner
Balaji Rao (C)
Join the club: Akon, a good friend of Rovers star
El-Hadj Diouf, poses with the Blackburn shirt
Desai said: 'Wouldn't it be nice if the football
world embraced the opportunity that India, with a population of 1.4
billion, could bring not only to Blackburn Rovers, but to football
in general in opening up the territory?
'The dream is one day of having an Indian international
playing for Blackburn. If India can produce a Tendulkar in cricket,
why not a Beckham or a Rooney?'
