Fans of Blackburn Rovers are left devastated once again following a 3-2 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday seeing Rovers fall into the relegation zone. After 9 games without a win, a relegation battle was inevitable and now the drop to League One seems imminent.
On November the 19th 2010, an unforgettable takeover highly influenced by SEM / Kentaro, saw Pune based poultry farmers Venkateshwara Hatcheries succeed in buying the beloved Lancashire club - Blackburn Rovers. Unknowingly, the transfer would spark a bonfire of unfortunate events for the undeserving supporters.
The sacking of Sam Allardyce was the first foolish decision the new owners made, seeing the domineering and manipulative character Steve Kean rise to managerial power. The era of Steve Kean was a dark one, which saw Rovers crash to the Championship.
Kean had the side top before he resigned in September and it is argued that Rovers should have stayed with him. Lest it not be forgotten that this was the incapable man who took the reputable club down in the first place. All that has happened since has been a side effect of the poison injected into the club by Venky's and their favored man Steve Kean.
Following a record of more managers than away wins the club now finds themselves battling for survival in the bottom three of the championship. League One looms, and supporters find themselves fearing for the club more than ever.
There is rising concern about the financial difficulties that back to back relegation may provoke. Firstly, there will be an inescapable decrease in attendances, likely to remain unchanged until Rovers achieve top flight again, or Venky's sell up.
A decrease in support will prompt a significant decline in revenue, forcing the owners to find other ways to ensure a stability of finance. Despite the parachute payments arriving in installments of £16 million over the first two seasons, there are unsurprising concerns that the Venky's have already delved into these funds. This means the easiest way of stabilising finance will most likely come from the owners selling any player with an ounce of worth.
The outcome of this being an unbalanced squad with either cheap, ineffective replacements, or youth players being brought in to the first team before they are ready. Leaving a weakened squad with even less chance of making their way back up the difficult ladder of football leagues.
Currently the Venky's are losing around £2 million each month. While attendances remain at an all time low and revenue is unlikely to increase, there is undoubted and justified fear that liquidation and administration are potentially on the cards.
The owners also owe compensation pay outs to ex managers Steve Kean, Henning Berg and most recently Michael Appleton. Henning Berg is currently taking legal action against the owners likely to result in huge losses.
Another threat to finance is the inexplicably high wages that the under performing players are receiving with wage packets in the region of £30,000 and £40,000 contracted to players who aren't even making the weekly squad. These extortionate pay cheques increasingly infuriate the fans as the players continue to reward the supporters with shameful performances.
If wage caps were imposed, but bonuses for various achievements such as clean sheets, wins, goals scored and progress in cups were valued higher it may incite a higher standard of football not just at Blackburn Rovers, but at all clubs, as players would have to work harder in order to earn a higher amount and therefore be valued higher than their teammates.
Anuradha Desai has publicly stated that herself and her family are "stubborn" business people suggesting that she will stick with Rovers until she succeeds, but this is not what the fans want to hear. If they had any form of dignity they should hold their hands up and apologise, admit that it went wrong and just leave. Now is not the time for stubborn, unwanted commitment.
The impression the Venky's give, is that they are deeply unaware of the problems that Blackburn Rovers face. It is common fact that they are naive, and has been since the start of their takeover, but the lack of communication, especially in recent times suggests that they are content with what is happening and have no intention of making any influential decisions over incompetent members of the board.
The off field antics such as the continuous power struggle between Shaw, Agnew and Singh definitely has an impact on the players attitudes, and also influences the continuation of financial difficulty. The three "men" must put their differences aside so that appointments can be made unanimously and Rovers can progress. The last two managers were appointed by different people and have resulted in huge compensation fees. (Berg was appointed by Shebby Singh, while Appleton was Shaw and Agnew's man.)
If Venky's have any will to save their relationship with the fans, the finances and most importantly Blackburn Rovers, they are urged to speak, to clarify their intentions, they are urged to listen to fans, to implement the right decisions, and appoint the right people. People who care about the club.
The dark facts are that the owners continue to ignore the destructive problems relegation will bring, the players continue to ignore the unbearable heartache they inflict upon the fans each week, the FA remain detached from the club and refuse to intervene while this injustice prevails.
But saddening of all, the fans remain helpless as their, beloved club spirals into uncontrollable turmoil.
