Blackburn’s Indian owners planning senior backup plan for manager

Venky’s, the Indian owners of Blackburn Rover’s,are considering appointing a director of football to work with beleaguered manager Steve Kean.

London: Venky’s, the Indian owners of the English Premier League football team – Blackburn Rover’s -- are considering appointing a director of football to work with beleaguered manager Steve Kean as part of a radical revamp of the club’s structure.

According to a leading daily, the Scot, appointed last December, confirmed that it was Blackburn’s board, rather than the manager, who decided this week to dispense with the services of John Jensen, his assistant and a popular figure among the club’s players, after just nine months at Ewood Park. “The legal side of it still has to be sorted out. But it was a board decision. John was met by the deputy chief executive [Paul Hunt] on Wednesday. He has been back in to see the players, say his farewells, and he has left the club. No, I did not [give the decision his blessing]. It was made at board level. I got on well with John,” the 48 year-old said. Kean insists identifying Jensen’s replacement is “100 per cent” his decision and he is thought to be hopeful of appointing Paul Clement, the former Chelsea coach who left Stamford Bridge this summer following the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas. Venky’s, led by chairman Anuradha Desai and her brothers, Venkateshwara and Balaji Rao, are also evaluating the possibility of recruiting a director of football to guide Kean through his first full season as a manager. No candidates for the role have yet been approached, but Venky’s are increasingly convinced Blackburn require an experienced hand in a consultant role if they are to recover from a poor start to the season which has left the club languishing in 18th place in the Premier League. ANI