Rovers owners tell Kean Euro plans

The owners of struggling Blackburn Rovers have told Steve Kean that they want to be playing regular European football within five years.

Rovers have only one league win so far this season in the league, with manager Kean recording just six victories in 31 league games since replacing Sam Allardyce last season.

Pressure is certainly mounting from the fans, who have been banned from bringing protest banners to the game with Chelsea at Ewood Park on Saturday, but Venky’s are keen to retain the Scot and have lofty targets.

“Obviously when you’re in a position in the bottom three, it’s not nice, but they’re very successful business people,” Kean said.

“And once they make their mind up about what direction they want to go in any business, I think they will stick with it, they will give it a period of time and then they will judge it. Certainly not within 10 games.”

“The owners know what they want to do and how they want the club to play. They know where they want us to go long term and nothing is going to change.”

“So hopefully the fans who are being negative can look at the performances against Newcastle (in the Carling Cup), where we were the first team to beat them, and Norwich, where we deserved to win and should have taken it over the line in the final seconds, and see we’re playing well.”

“I’m convinced that results will come and we will climb up the table quickly.”

“The owners want us within four or five years to be competing in Europe season on season.”

“I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t do that. But what they want to do is to do it gradually. I don’t think they’re going to throw hundreds of millions at it to get there in one season.”

“There’s going to be a consistency in what they do and what they invest, and I think there will be a consistency in who’s managing the club.”