Rover and OUT!

After months of broken promises and more drama's than a best selling Novel, Its very worrying times for everyone supporter of Blackburn Rovers.

Venkys since taking over have promised the World but to date have failed to deliver on those promises.

The National press have gone to town in breaking revelations over the last few weeks,  Rovers being in financial difficulty with the Banks, In house fall outs, Rovers inability to make any meaningful moves into the transfer market. More and more individuals leaving the club from the back room staff and Board and also a lot of rumours of players unrest.

Our Local Paper on the other hand has broken very little news and seems incapable of either asking the right questions or incapable of asking the right people.
As the local paper which many Rovers fans rely on to break the news especially those with no Internet its been a very poor showing and I'm afraid they should hang their head in shame.

There is very little point in writing a weekly blog in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph stating what fans are worried about if the reporter has not got the balls to ask the question, Maybe this is why he is still working as a local reporter and has not been given an opportunity at a more prestigious level.

Since the end of last season three players have returned to their parent clubs after being on Loan at Rovers, We have sold our best player and other players have either exited or are close to exiting.
Even today Niko Kalinic's agent has spoke of his disgust that Rovers have been unwilling to talk to the £6 Million star who has not flown out with the rest of the squad for their Asia Cup tour.

What are Venkys playing at?

Is this really the asset strip that so many fans predicted months ago?

Have they been stringing everyone along including the remaining members of the board?

Is there anyone left at Rovers we can honestly trust?

Whatever any one's stance is on Venky's no-one can disagree that we are in a lot weaker position now than we where before they bought the club.

 We don't appear to have any direction or any plan

We have a rookie Manager in Steve Kean which targets appear to be avoiding with the plague with even one Premiership player stating "He would rather retire than play for Kean". He should never have been appointed and he has to shoulder some of the responsibility.

The clubs owners know nothing about football, or the way it works or indeed how to negotiate with other clubs and agents for new players.

Has Blackburn Rovers really been bought with the best intentions or has Venkys bought us to market Chickens Worldwide?. After speaking to a few people who live in India their general feeling is the latter which spells further trouble for us.

How can this all be put right?

Get rid of the Manager, Bring in a Manager who has worldwide respect of players and the press alike,

Show us the money, We need at least four new players and not something you'd buy from Trotters Independent Traders.

Employ someone who can answer questions and not feed us Porky's after all you sell chickens not pigs!

If you have got it wrong, hold your hands up and find a buyer for the club before we disappear down the shoot like Wimbledon.

We don't need your lies, and false press releases, we want facts, and we shouldn't have to be going undercover to get them.

We are now sick of waiting for good news and actions speak louder than words
Venkys need to come to the party and if they don't I'm afraid that final nail may already be in the coffin, and Rovers position may just be irretrievable

11 Men who could make a difference

We are now halfway through the transfer window and although the wheels have been turning slowly they have been at least turning,

I thought I would have a little fun and look at Eleven players who could make a difference to our squad. These players are just my opinion and should not be looked at as current Rovers targets!

Goalkeeper-Matthew Gilks Free Transfer

Following the departure's of Jason Brown and Frank Fielding Rovers now find themselves with only one experienced goalkeeper as back up in Mark Bunn. Tony Warner has been linked with a move to Ewood but how about we make a move for Matthew Gilks?
The Blackpool goalkeeper had lots of rave reviews for some of his performances last season and is available on a free transfer. Despite him starting the season as Blackpool's number 1 he spent most of the season injured following a knee injury he picked up against West Ham United. He returned from injury in April and managed 11 appearances in total. Signing back up keepers can be hard as they want first team football, but at 29 with lots of experience under his belt he wouldn't be a bad choice.


Right back-Emmanuel Eboué £4 Million

Michel Salgado will be 36 in October and he was arguably one of Rovers most consistent performers last season. However in terms of natural cover Blackburn are really lacking on options. Its no secret that Arsenal are trying to raise funds so they can themselves move into the transfer market for players and one player rumoured to be available for around £4 Million is Emmanuel Eboue. The 28 year old Ivory Coast International has 61 caps and has a wealth of Premiership experience. His time at Arsenal has not always been plain sailing after he had sections of the crowds turn on him a couple of season's ago. Although he managed 27 appearances last season only 13 of those came in the league. He is comfortable at Right Back and Right Midfield and is a big powerful player. He would offer genuine competition for a starting berth and although not spectacular would be deemed a positive signing for the club.

Left Back- Erik Pieters £6 Million

Although the club already have Givet and Olsson at the club, neither player has always looked comfortable playing at left back. Olsson's main strengths are his forward burst which have proved fruitful for the team. Whilst Givet's distribution or lack of over lapping runs takes an attacking threat away from the team. Givet's future has been under the spotlight for  a number of months with  a move back to France muted.
Erik Pieters has been a revelation since joining PSV in 2008 and is now Hollands first choice left back. The Dutch league has always struggled to hold on to its better players and Pieters is already been linked with a move away. £6 Million could be enough to capture the player who PSV paid £2.5 Million for 3 years ago.
Known for being aggressive and attack minded Pieters would be deemed a top signing for a club of our stature, whilst being only 22 he would also rise in value if he can carry his current form into the rigours of the Premiership.

Centre Back- Jonny Evans £6 Million

With the departure of Phil Jones and the possible departure of Samba Rovers are finding themselves short of experienced options at the heart of their defence. Many players have been linked with moves to the club but one player who could be of interest to Rovers is Jonny Evans. The Manchester United centre back will ultimately now be 5th choice at United with Smalling and Jones waiting in the wings to replace Ferdinand or Vidic. Still only 23 Evans seems to have been around forever and has plenty of games under his belt, both at club level and Internationally. A bid of £6 Million would be enough to tempt United to sell and the player would welcome the opportunity for first team football. Blackburn could do a lot worse than Evans and he ticks all the right boxes being home grown and also only 23.

Centre Back- Steven Taylor £5 Million

The talented defender has had his injury problems in the past but his ability has never been in question. Former captain of the England under 21's Steven Taylor is now 25 and its not always been plain sailing for him at Newcastle. He asked for a transfer in 2010 after a breakdown in contract talks and a change of scenery may suit the player who came through the ranks at Newcastle. Taylor can play anywhere across the back four and being home grown is highly desirable. A sensible fee of a round £5 Million may be all it takes to get the player on board and his leadership qualities would certainly add a bit of steel to the squad.

Centre Midfield- Steven Defour £6 Million

Rovers have been heavily linked with his former team mate Axel Witsel, However Defour is the heart beat of the Standard Liege team and is their current captain. In July 2011 Defour was being linked with a move to Lokomotiv Moscow but rumours have since circulated that negotiations had broken down. English Premier League club Wigan Athletic are rumoured to have bid £6 million for the player. Which is a steal for a player who is just 23 and has over 30 caps for Belgium. Bigger clubs have been linked with him over the years and Manchester United have been keen followers of his development. Defour is described as a dynamic play maker with craft and vision and he would add so much to the Rovers midfield should we make a move for the player.

Centre Midfield- Leroy Fer £4 Million

Leroy Fer has already been capped by the Dutch national team and is only 21. Fer is a no nonsense defensive midfielder currently playing for Feyenoord in Holland, who has been likened to Patrick Viera. He is currently vice captain at his club and would not command a massive fee despite his potential. At 6ft 2 Inches Fer has played over 100 league games in the top flight of Dutch football scoring 13 goals. With Jermaine Jones return to Rovers looking ever increasingly unlikely due to the big fee being demanded by Schalke, Fer would be considered good value at just £4 Million especially with age on the players side.

Right Winger- Henri Saivet £2 Million

Saivet currently plays for Bordeaux but spent last season out on loan. At only 20 Saivet has much potential and Arsenal and Chelsea are just two of the clubs who have been linked with him in the past. Saivet is described as a player with the skill as Zidane, but with the pace and swagger of Henry. He has been capped at all levels from under 16's to under 21's by France and is highly rated over there. The club has never really replaced David Bentley and Hoillet's best form has come when he has played on the left hand side. At £2 Million Saivet would be a snip as he has the potential to be one of the next generation of World superstars.

Left Winger- Santi Cazorla £15 Million

Santi Cazorla would be deemed a marquee signing and one which is not impossible. Villareal are aware many clubs are weighing up bids for the Spanish international who is described as an out an out play maker. He can comfortably play down either wing or centrally and his vision to see a pass and change the pace of the game is amongst the best around at present. He has over 30 caps for Spain and has a keen eye for goal. Cazorla is now 26 and his best years are still ahead of him. He is not a player Villareal would happily sell and have tried to scare people off by slapping a £17.5 Million price tag on the player. However the player is keen to move to England and although Blackburn would not be his first choice of club, If the club can put the right deal on the table its not out of the question. Villareal would more than likely compromise on their valuation and £15 Million which is less than we got for Phil Jones could be easily financed by Rovers.

Striker- Lucas Barrios- £15 Million

After scoring 49 goals in 53 games for Colo-Colo Barrios Transferred in 2009 to Dortmund in Germany for a fee of just under £4 Million .He has had a similar impact in the Bundesliga in his two seasons their and is averaging more than a goal every other game. A Paraguay International is is equally as strong in the air as he is with the ball at his feet and has formed a potent partnership for the International team with Santa Cruz which is leaving Cardozo out in the cold. Dortmund are no longer the team of old and Barrios would welcome a move to the Premiership. He will also be well aware of Blackburn as a club due to being an International team mate of Santa Cruz who only has nice things to say about the club. A fee between £12 -15 Million would be enough to secure the players services and in some quarters he may be considered a Marquee style player.

Striker-Jermaine Defoe £8 Million

Defoe has been heavily linked this transfer window after it emerged Spurs were willing to let the England International go for a fee of around £8 Million. Defoe struggled for goals last season and found himself in and out of the side, however he excelled at international level and has 15 goals for England from over 40 caps. Defoe has scored goals wherever he has been and playing for a less fashionable club would not bother the player as it proved when he joined Portsmouth. Defoe is the type of player who just wants to play and if a club can offer him first team football he will be in the car to sign the deal. He would offer experience but most importantly he is a 20 goals a season player with regular football. He can be a fox in the box or can lash the home from 30 yards and would be a massive coup for the club. Rovers biggest weakness is up front and Defoe's capture would certainly put many an anxious fan at ease to where the goals are coming from next season.


So there we have it Rovers Revisited's 11 men who could make a difference if Steve Kean wishes to have some transfer pointers ahead of the new season.

Please feel free to leave comments on who you would like to see Rovers make a move for, after all the press has been coming up with bogus names for weeks

Blackburn to capture Pavone

Blackburn Rovers are set to announce Mariano Pavone as their first significant signing of this window.

The once capped Argentinian will join the club on a Bosman Free transfer after spending much of last season on loan at River Plate from Real Betis. However following the Argentinian Giants relegation this past season the player who bought out his contractual rights from Betis in March 2011 for a fee of around 400,000 Euros has once again become a free agent.

Pavone, 29, arrived in Spain in 2007 from Estudiantes with a great goal-scoring reputation, but failed to shine and was put up for sale at the start of 2010. The player is now looking to rebuild his career in England and held talks with the club on Tuesday accompanied  by his agent Ohne Berater and his family, The player also underwent a medical and the formalities of this transfer are expected to be completed today.

So who is Mariano Pavone?

* Pavone is a two footed striker who has 76 goals in 270 appearances which equates to a goal every  3.5  matches.

* He has 1 International cap which was in April 2007 against Chile

* He spent 7 years at Estudiantes finishing the top scorer in the Argentine league in 2005 with 16 goals

*He moved to Real Betis for €6.8 million in July 2007 and suffered relegation with them at the end of the 2008-2009 season

* A move to Catania in Italy fell through in February 2010 and the player eventually joined River plate on loan for the 2010-2011 season.

* Pavone would suffer his second career relegation as River plate where relegated at the end of the 2010-2011 season, Pavone misses a penalty in their final match.

I'm sure there will be mixed opinion on the imminent capture of Pavone and message boards up and down the country are already doing overtime. Some fans very disgruntled whilst others open minded. This is a shrewd move by Blackburn in my Opinion, The player is not a journey man and has only two  full time clubs and a loan on his CV. Although things didn't work out for him Spain, he was at one of the more unfashionable clubs. Big players have gone to Betis in years gone by and failed due to the lack of quality within the squad. One player who springs to mind is Denilson , Real Betis broke the world record transfer fee when they paid Sao Paulo  £21.5 million for his services following an impressive Copa America in 1997. Denilson was regarded in some quarters as one of the best players in the world however his time at Betis was not memorable with the player only showing glimpses of his brilliance before Real Betis were relegated.

The Pavone situation is very similar to that of Denilson's and despite River Plates relegation Pavone was one of their shining lights in what was a poor season for the club. Blackburn are not getting  a player who has not featured for a season but a player who made 32 appearances whilst scoring 9 goals.

We also have to remember that Bosman signings are not free, So this is not a penny pinching exercise by the board, With all Bosman signings comes a large signing on fee, and as the player owns his own rights Rovers will still be paying a nice chuck to secure the player.

Other positives can be taken from this move, We already have Mauro Formica at the club who has yet to feature for the first team, and having a fellow countryman in the squad can only have a  positive reaction on his development.

Pavone Will join fellow new recruits Myles Anderson and young Paraguayan Rodrigo Baez

 Blackburn are also expected to hold talks with other players today as they look to tie up a few more in comings before the weekend whilst youngster Tom Hitchcock is due to join Plymouth Argyle on loan
.

Very difficult to remain patient?

So far this summer its been one of the most interesting ever in terms of teams strengthening, unfortunately all the hype and excitement has been happening at other Premiership clubs and NOT Blackburn.


Add into the mix a certain website who likes to portray they have very close links with Blackburn Rovers and Venky's PR Machine - They have started a rumour on their message boards that Venky's have had enough and now wish to sell the club, They claim to have got this information from a very reliable source who has always been on the money for them in the past. They also say that they debated long and hard before putting the rumour on their site, However bar the site in question no-one else has touched the story, That includes other Rovers site's, The National press, or even sites which are renowned for making fairy tale stories.


The big problem with Rumours is they spiral out of control and any type of mud which can be thrown at it makes it spiral out of control, However is there any meat being put on the bone to support such claims?


I looked into this story myself and asked the question to the sources I use for getting information for Vital Blackburn and the answer was simple, Venky's are still very focused in taking this project to another level, They have organised a trip for the squad to Pune in a couple of weeks as they wish to introduce their new venture to the people of India. The family have a long term vision, although certain things have been an eye opener for them, due to no prior Knowledge of running a football club, They are not the type of people who run at the first sign of disappointment. They bought the club for cash and not borrowed money like so many other takeovers. Any money generated from sales included the Phil Jones money will be made immediately available to the manager for new players in addition to the budget which was already set a side.


There is a wide spread opinion that their inability to communicate with the fans is causing real problems, The clubs official website appears to be running very few stories despite taking hard earned cash for subscriptions, whilst season ticket sales have been very slow as many fans refuse to commit for the new season until all these questions are answered.


So are things really this bad and has optimism turned to despair?


Its easy to get frustrated when you see one of your best players sold to Manchester United whilst other clubs appear to be buying new blood ahead of the new season. The truth is Rovers did all they could to get Phil Jones to stay at Blackburn, but his mind was made up, He wanted to join a club who could challenge for Trophies now instead of  years down the line. Would he of stayed had Big Sam still been in charge and we was under a different Administration? I very much doubt it, One thing which has always happened at Rovers is our better players have always jumped ship when a Bigger club has come calling, and this is mirror imaged at other clubs in our position up and down the Country.


If we look closely at the clubs who have actually bought players its mainly Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City who have been spending big, However these are clubs who have aspirations to win the league THIS season, of the other clubs Sunderland and Newcastle appear to be adding to their squads every other day, but have they really bought anyone who would wet the appetite had Rovers signed them instead?


Rovers hunt for players has hit somewhat of a brick wall in recent weeks, Clubs and Agents are asking the World for Players on their books, and although we all want to see new players being unveiled on a daily basis we can ill afford to jump in with two feet and buy the wrong player at an inflated price.


We have had reports that Rovers have anything between £5 Million and £50 Million to spend this summer on improving the squad and depending on what sources you believe this could include the wages/signing on fee's. Rovers have been linked with over 50 players in the press whilst there is targets which have not even hit the press rumour mill yet.


One player who looks certain to join Blackburn is Cédric Mongongu. The 22 year old Congo DR international has become available due to Monaco's relegation to the second tier of French football and will join for a fee in the region of £2.3 Million. The young Congolese defender's career has been monitored by some of Europe's elite clubs since his breakthrough into the first team at Monaco at the age of 20 and he has gone on to make other 70 appearances over the last couple of seasons. Those clubs include AC Millan, Juventus and Arsenal and this could prove very shrewd business for Rovers. The player has not suddenly come onto Rovers radar and he has been watched and monitored for many months, Rovers in fact made contact with the players representatives weeks ago when negotiations over a deal was put on the table, Mongongu will be the first of many new players which are expected to come through the door next week.






My stance has always been the same, Judge Venky's when the Transfer window closes at the end of August, They must be given at least this time to prove if they are Buyers or Liars, If September 1st 2011 comes and they have not fulfilled their promises then that is the time to ask the questions and have a full scale inquest, Unitil then I will remain with a glass half full mentality and remain hopeful that this window will be our best ever!

The Press playing the numbers game

This summer transfer window is the strangest one that I can ever remember. The press seem to pull another name out of the hat on a daily basis to whom they think Rovers may be chasing, So far many of the names that have been mentioned have been a million miles wide of the mark.

If a player appears available then straight away he is linked to Rovers and its getting quite annoying, and is what I like to call "Lazy Journalism". Everyone likes to hear Rovers are chasing this player or are chasing that player, but that jubilation soon turns to despair as the rumour mill goes into overdrive and very few stories have any real substance in them.

Behind the scenes Rovers have been careful to keep their dealings away from the press, Some quarters of the press would have you believe that all is not well at Blackburn and no-one is making any decisions, Their evidence of this is simply they are not been told anything, However if you look at the facts, ever since Venky's took control of Blackburn they have been given a torrid time by the red tops.Whilst contract clauses ect have also appeared in the press which has helped engineer moves for players away from Ewood. Put yourself in Venky's shoes, Would you trust the press and risk letting the cat out of the bag so you find yourself in an auction for a target?

July 1st is when the business end of transfers commence, Players from oversea clubs are not eligible to join another club officially until that date. I have read the message boards and it appears that the press have inflicted widespread panic amongst Rovers fans. You need to remember many players are away on Holiday whilst others have had International commitments.

Signings are far closer to being done than the press would have you believe, The truth is, they don't know and need to sell papers, so many of the stories are fabricated in hope that they strike it lucky with a name so they can say a few weeks down the line that they brought you the news first.

I plead with all Rovers fans to keep the faith, and go with the flow, good things come to those who wait,

I'm getting tired of reading "I wouldn't pay that for him" or "He is not worth that" or "we should buy this one"

We have the largest transfer budget in the history of the club and the club intends to get value for money by bringing players in who can hit the ground running. They want to bring players both for the short term and the long term, but most importantly that are ready for the challenge which is the Premiership come August.

A senior source at the club has shared many things with me over the last few weeks which should give us all optimism for the future and due to the nature of the source I have to remain quiet at this point to the content of those discussions, However what I will say is take things with a pinch of salt what you are reading in the press or on message boards with quotes from the press, or it will just drive you crazy.

What next for Rovers?

Message boards, Forums, Facebook and Twitter  have been overloaded in the last 24 hours with posts from Blackburn Rovers fans who feel the heart has been ripped out of their club.


Blackburn held a meeting with Jones on Monday over his future when the player indicated that he would like  to speak to other clubs over a potential move. Rovers reaction to this was of total shock especially as the player had only signed a new deal in January, Steve Kean was also worried that the minimum release clause which was put into his new deal would leave Rovers powerless should this figure be met. Rovers reacted by putting a new contract on the table which would of doubled Jones wages and made him one of the highest earners at Ewood, However Jones was adamant that he wished to consider his options. This was relayed back through the players agent to potential suitors and the bidding war began.

Now Rovers up to the this stage had put up a good fight to retain the services of the highly rated England under 21 International, Rovers did not need to sell and had no wish to sell.


Enquiries started coming in for the player as Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all made enquiries and the bids were lodged, some where straight cash deals whilst other clubs tried tempting Rovers into action by offering players in exchange. It is rumoured that Spurs bid especially was made up of a number of players coming to Rovers as part of the deal, and Harry Rednapp confirmed that they were keen to add Jones to their squad.


Now when Steve Kean was really needed to pull out the stops to try and persuade Jones to stay he was too busy spending the day in court answering charges of "Driving under the influence of Alcohol". Whilst he was missing in action Liverpool and Arsenal triggered the release clause fee which allowed Jones to hold talks with both clubs. It would prove to be a busy day for Liverpool and ex Rovers Manager Kenny Dalglish who was also busy trying to negotiate the transfer of Jones International team mate Jordan Henderson from Sunderland. As Tuesday came to a close Liverpool had agreed terms for Henderson and it looked highly likely that Jones would also be joining the Merseyside club as he had no wish to leave the North West, which rules the other three runners from London out of the running. At the eleventh hour on Tuesday Night Manchester United asked for permission to speak to the player although no fee was agreed with United at this time.


On Wednesday with Kean on route to India to meet Rovers club owners Venkys and the bookies freezing bets on Jones joining Liverpool, Jones travelled to Manchester to hold talks with United and under went a medical. Whilst this was all going on United started pinging various offers to Rovers including offering players as part of the deal, but Rovers would not move on the clause and United finally agreed to meet the asking price for the player. Its being reported that the clause and figure was around £16 million pounds although a source has today told me that the deal is a club record for a fee received by Rovers. It is also rumoured that the medical did not go without a hiccup and United are currently waiting clearance from their insurance company before they complete the deal, this however is just a formality.


Blackburn had promised fans that Jones would not be sold but with the clause in place they were powerless, Many are asking the question why Rovers allowed such a clause? This is simple when Jones new contract was agreed it would of been at the request of the player and the players agent that such a clause existed especially after Rovers had already turned down bids of £8 Million pounds earlier in the season from both Arsenal and Chelsea. If Jones had not signed the deal in January then Rovers could of ended up selling the player for well below the figure they are going to receive and this would of been as big as blow as losing the player.


With Kean still in India the bad news appears not to have stopped there, With Arsenal missing out on Jones they have now turned their attentions back to Chris Samba. Arsene Wenger made tentative enquiries in January and has also made further enquires since the end of the season. With Samba also adding meat to the bones by stating that he is at the time of his career where he would like to be playing in Europe and for a club  that can realistically win trophies this will only encourage Arsenal to try Rovers resolve with another bid. Blackburn and Arsenal at present are a million miles away in terms of the players valuation as Rovers do not want to sell their inspirational Captain for less than £12 Million whilst Arsenal who are renowned for being penny pincher's value the player at around £8 Million.


Is it a case of pay up or shut up? I wish that was the case, but Samba has already once in the last 6 months demanded a transfer and if Arsenal do place the bid then he is expected to once again demand a move if Rovers stand in his way. Again like Jones Blackburn are keen to hold onto the player and have no desire to sell, but as history proves once a player wants out its more of a case WHEN and not IF.


They say bad luck comes in three's and a source within the club has now put another spin on the Hoilett contract saga. Steve Kean said earlier in the season that Hoilett would be offered a new deal in the summer and he wanted him to concentrate on the job in hand which was helping Rovers stay up. It was strange that other players including Roberts signed new deals in January whilst Hoilett's, who has been the stand out performer this season was left despite him now only having a year to run on it. Hoilett spoke a few weeks ago, and said he was enjoying life at Rovers now he is enjoying regular football and he was looking forward to penning a new deal. Kean then went on record by saying he would be Travelling to Canada to discuss a new deal with Hoilett and his Father. That trip has to date not occurred or been arranged, and the other point to make on this is its the club that puts terms to the the players and not Managers. A strong source who has been reliable over the years in other news I have broke has today said "The deal has stalled, There are a number of clubs interested in Hoilett and think they can get him on the cheap due to him entering the final year of his contract". This is worrying and could potentially see Rovers losing their three best players from last season. Contract talks stalling is not something new and is usually rectified, However with Jones already outward bound this will undoubtedly have an effect on Hoilett's decision to re-sign, especially if Samba also joins Jones out the door. However another source questioned the validity of this claim as he said he had spoken with Martin Olsson who had told him that Hoilett is without question staying.


Rovers are beginning to feel the effects of having no chain of command on these shores, and with Venkys still running their operations from afar in India internal organisation seems to be slipping. Despite all the revelations at Blackburn over the last 48 hours there has been no official statement from the club, This has infuriated the fans as communication seems to have come to a stand still, and the only news being drip fed to the fans is coming out through the Red Tops and Sky.


So where does this leave Rovers?


Venkys have done a great Job over the last 8 Months of making statements then weeks down the line changing their mind,

They told us Sam would remain the Boss then 6 weeks later they sacked him!

They said they knew who the new Manager would be and Steve Kean would be in charge until the new man is appointed?

They said Kean would be in charge for the remainder of the season as they did not want to rush the appointment.

They then appointed Kean on a 2 and half year deal and said he would not be sacked under any circumstances?

They promised no players especially our young players will be sold as we are no longer a selling club

They have promised a substantial budget for new players and also promised that any money that is made from sales will be made available for new signings.

Now is the time to stop the talk and for Venkys to show their hand, The administration which served Rovers so well over the years when balancing the books to stay afloat has now gone. John Williams was always open about Rovers capabilities, which although was hard to take always left us under no illusion that the club would make every penny available which was physically possible without taking the club into major debt.

Venkys promised investment and that they would turn Rovers into a top 5 side, Now they have the opportunity to show the fans they mean business. If reports are to be believed then Blackburn now have at their disposal the biggest Transfer budget in the history of the club, This budget was decided long before the season ended and with now the added income of Jones pending sale, This puts Rovers in a strong position to compete for players which would of only been pipe dreams over the last few years. Venky's have already since their arrival made moves for big names in Beckham and Ronaldinho and although they were not successful and the club was ridiculed for their pursuit it gave a little belief that Rovers would continue to try and entice big name players to the club.

Steve Kean's admission that he would like to sign last season's loans, Cruz, Diouf and J Jones has not gone down well. As apart from Jermaine Jones its widely agreed that the other players did not do enough to warrant a permanent deal at the club. Rovers have also approached Sebastian Larsson who is available on a Bosman free transfer although Sunderland now look like favourites to sign the player. These type of signings are not getting many pulses racing and both Steve Kean and Venkys need to raise the bar by a lot if they are going to get the fans back on side. Most fans want Steve Kean out, whilst a number of fans also want Venkys out, There is a worry that Kean's inexperience of signing players could see either Rovers miss out on targets or that Kean will waste the money on players who are not of the desired quality to move the club forward, this could see Rovers once again fighting for their lives to remain in the Premiership come May 2012.

Now is the time for everyone to stand together and get behind the team and the Management, I know they have not done enough to warrant such support, but they took over during a season and they did say judge them in 12 Months. Rome was not built in a day and this is a marathon not a sprint. Lets wait and see who Rovers sign and how much they spend, and if they come up trumps then the last 48 hours will be a remembered as not the day it all fell apart but the day Rovers got a platform to build on the future. We all hurt when players leave who we adore, but no player is bigger than any team and when they have gone new hero's are born. Blackburn Rovers has existed for 136 years and in that time we have seen them come and go.

Blackpool Manager Ian Holloway was asked last season how he remained so upbeat and he replied

 " I treasure everyday and love it, and each day you remain at a club as the Manager you are 1 day closer to the sack, One day the club will decide I'm no longer the Manager of Blackpool but that's life"

We must look forwards and not backwards,  what has been cannot be changed and with a full summer to rebuild its a good time to be a Rovers Fan

Jones exit nears as Rovers agree £15 Million pound deal with United

Phil Jones has today had his medical at Carrington ahead of a £15 Million pound move to Manchester United. Its been all systems go over the last 48 hours as Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United went head to head to capture the highly rated England under 21 International. The player held talks with Wenger last night but as soon as it was evident that Ferguson wanted the player, Then Jones his mind was made up to stay in the North West.

This news will come as a blow to the majority of Rovers fans who have seen their club fall to pieces in the 6 months with so much uncertainty surrounding the new owners. However this was an episode which was always going to end in tears as it became public Knowledge that clause had been put in the young centre backs contract back in January. There will be many days of people trying to lay the blame at individuals doors, but the club had very little power, but to insert the clause or risk losing the player for much less than the reported agreed figure.

Steve Kean is currently on route to India to discuss Blackburn's own transfer activity and moves for players are expected to be imminent. Blackburn had already for casted their transfer budget long before the season ended and this was not dependant on sales. However the club have also indicated that should money be generated from sales that this would be added to any budget which has already been set aside.

There have been many conflicting reports over what has been made available to the Manager to spend, and many individuals are speculating, Reports of £5 Million plus bringing forward £5 Million forward from the January window is wide of the mark. A strong source who has always been 100% reliable has suggested to me that this figure is double that, and no figure's have been banded into the press officially from the club due to effect it would have on clubs bumping prices up. This untimely departure of Jones will also be a concern for Rovers as club's will automatically be holding Blackburn to ransom knowing that money is now available.

The news of Jones departure has already had agents trying to punt their clients to Blackburn as possible replacements, although Rovers will not be panic buying.

So where do we go from here?

When all the dust settles Rovers will find themselves minus one player, But on the other hand they will also find themselves with a much bigger than anticipated transfer budget, which will also open another window when it comes to paying wages. Rovers are in still in the market for a marquee player and despite Jones departure he is not a household name beyond these shores.
His departure will not have a negative effect on targets and provided those targets are in place before the start of pre-season it should not have a negative effect on the rest of the squad. Chris Samba has been heavily linked with a move away this summer, but that has cooled due to Rovers asking price and not many potential suitors.

Steve Kean has assured everyone that we will  buy quality to prevent a repeat of last season when Rovers survived relegation on the final day of the season, and its important that as fans we allow him the opportunity to put his words into action. Its too easy to be critical today, and we must all look at the bigger picture. Blackburn now find themselves with the biggest transfer budget they have ever had in the history of the club, and its a time to be optimistic and excited that we can finally attract the right profile of players to Ewood Park