Dire Venky’s are running Blackburn into ground
ON A day when the potential of Blackburn Rovers was clear, the owners of this once proud club will have been awash with regret while watching in India. A very strong performance indeed, taking the lead against Manchester United via a fine goal. A stronger attendance, over 23,000, than Ewood Park has seen for a long time, too. This tie provided respite from turmoil and a relegation battle — a show of what is possible and the sort of day their supporters should be enjoying regularly. ‘The fans were outstanding,’ Owen Coyle said. ‘They backed the players endlessly and they responded to that. Hopefully we can get that atmosphere again.’ Sadly, they will not. This was for Manchester United’s eyes only. For the silent Venky’s — who have not attended a match since September 2014 — it should serve to indicate the horrible mess they have made. They once boasted about trying to sign Ronaldinho. Now they can’t sign Giles Barnes, Coyle failing to land the former Derby winger on a free last month. The owners pulled the funding plug 18 months ago. Sportsmail has been told how Venky’s ploughed £30million into Rovers every season after Premier League relegation in the blind hope they would again reach the promised land. But that all changed last season, with the budget slashed by 80 per cent and the club reliant on a £5m pay-out by the Football League. That happened overnight and Rovers have floundered since. Key players were sold without the knowledge of staff, with decisions made in India via a string of advisers. ‘They’ve allowed people to come in and play Championship Manager,’ one source said. Suhail Pasha is the latest ‘global adviser’ who refuses to communicate with fans. Though, in fairness, he barely talks to club employees either, with ex-managing director Derek Shaw left to sack Gary Bowyer after having no involvement in the decision. Rovers were mid-table then. Look at them now, the former Premier League champions lying 23rd and staring at relegation to the third tier. What are Venky’s getting out of this? Crippling debt and an image damaged beyond repair.