DOWN, ROVER

Back fallen Blackburn with cash or get out, Hendry tells owners

ROVERS legend Colin Hendry has challenged Blackburn’s owners to back Tony Mowbray with more cash – or sell up.

Mowbray, a former West Brom and Celtic boss, will seek assurances about the club’s summer plans before committing himself to a campaign in League One.

But the man who appointed him in February, director of football Paul Senior, yesterday quit the day after Rovers became the first Premier League winners to be relegated to the third tier.

Owners Venky’s, run by the Rao family, have frittered away a fortune since taking over in 2010 and the most recent accounts show debts of more than £106million.

Hendry (above), part of that all-conquering Rovers team in 1994-95, said: “The owners have to do one of two things, take another hit – find money from somewhere – or go. Simple as that, because they are ultimately responsible for the situation.

“It’s been a disaster from day one. They’re going to have to find money from somewhere instead of penny-pinching. They have to throw themselves at it now.

“Possibly that means a change of ownership and I think the fans would love to see that happen.”

Indian firm Venky’s yesterday gave Mowbray a public vote of confidence, but no mention was made of financial backing.

Mowbray plans to go to India to discuss his budget – and argue that the core of the Championship side must be retained.

Hendry added: “Tony is an honest big guy. If they can keep hold of him and work around him, he has shown enough in a short period of time that he has what is needed. And they need to get someone in who can run a football club.” Rovers fan and fashion designer Wayne Hemingway said: “In a business with more shareholders, Venky’s would have been ousted and the business sold. Something must be done to halt the spiral of decline.

“They need to either understand what it takes to run a football club and what it means to the people of Blackburn or go.”

Nottingham Forest, who survived on the final day at Rovers’ expense, will finalise their takeover by controversial Greek tycoon Evangelos Marinakis.

The Olympiakos owner, charged with match-fixing in Greece but never convicted, has agreed to buy out Fawaz Al Hasawi.