[Archived] A United Statement By Blackburn Rovers Fans

[tonygreenbank]

I have to say the " United " statement is an excellent one. Calm, measured and moderate; the perfect way to get things noticed and with the use of social networking sites it should reach a huge audience. My only criticism of it would be that it failed to mention that we would continue to give the players our fullest support and backing at matches. This has resulted in the reaction by reporters like Frank Malley who have responded to an earlier statement saying that protests would now increase.The "United" statement shows that most Rovers fans are sensible and passionate who only have the best interests of the club at heart.

It may take time to change the perceptions of the Frank Malleys of this world.

[purplegrover]

Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved in making this statement happen. I think its balanced, fair, and realistic. It does focus a lot on Kean as opposed to Venkys, and some in this thread have questioned that, but if the point is to try and bring the media back to understanding our point of view, then I agree that it has to focus more on Kean.

The media's criticism of the Blackburn fan base is largely based on the fans attitude towards Kean more so than Venky's. The pundits don't really care about who owns the club, but are rushing to defend and protect poor old maligned Kean, who supposedly hasn't been given a chance (Malley's article above a case in point)

As such, I think the United statement is spot on in trying to explain to the Lawro's and Malleys of the world why the fans are so anti-Kean.

As has been said elsewhere, and in the media - other managers of average sized clubs may have records not much better than Kean this year but aren't subject to the same vitriol (Coyle, Martinez)..but what this United statement highlights is the real issue for Blackburn fans - sure Kean's record is poor - we don't expect to seriously compete with the big clubs - but its the lies, the dodgy deals, and the fact that he seems to be installed as de-facto chairman, immune from performance review (i.e. being his own boss), as well as being the football manager.

So thanks everyone. Very nice work.

[Stuart]

As it seems to be open season on the Fans Forum again I will try to explain why the Forum have not put their names to this statement. We were asked a while ago to get involved and I know some members of the Forum have been helping agree the wording of the final statement.

We had a discussion about this on Tuesday night at the pre-meet for our next meeting with the club next Tuesday. We decided not to put the Forum's name to the statement. It was not a question that we could not get a majority of the Forum members to agree to sign it. The vast majority (although not 100% I suspect) were happy with the contents. We recognise that if we sign we may well forfeit any chance we have of dialogue with the owners. Everyone else has no bridges to burn but we still do, no matter how rickety they might be. I think we recognise that the chances of dialogue are extremely small at the moment but right now we are the only group of supporters who have been in contact with Venkys and we intend to continue to work at that link if we can in order to change things. I would encourage other fans to work at other routes to influence change but I think it's right that we continue to work at the tiny foothold we may still have.

We have agreed with the club that the Forum's remit be changed so that we can talk about anything, including football matters from next week's meeting onwards. We also want to talk to them about more frequent meetings in the current difficult climate. It seems to me that as we will be sitting down to talk to senior staff at Ewood next week that it would have been unwise to prejudice that meeting by signing the statement.

My interpretation of the statement itself was very much a plea to Venkys, aimed at replacing Kean and NOT aimed at them directly.

I can understand why the FF might like to keep its options open. However, a chance to show unity within the fan-base has been missed, and in effect, you (as a group) have decided to appear impartial(!) - even though at least part of the statement has been put together by members of the FF!

I just hope that the naysayers in the FF are right and there is still a chance to leverage that tiny foothold by appearing to be 'on Venkys side'. From what went on in Pune, and what the Rao's said to your faces and later did(n't), I am not optimistic that the FF subterfuge will be successful.

[Ste B]

As regards the FF signing, its easy for each websites owners to make a decision to sign this or not (in our case its down to myself and Glenn, but we also ran this by Kamy and Wen). The FF with 20+ members has to make a democratic decision at the next meeting to back it or not. Rest assured, next meetings agenda covers much of what the letter already says.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Predictable response from media

ROVERS FANS SHOULD RALLY BEHIND THE CLUB

By Frank Malley, Chief Writer, Press Association Sport

You would not a treat a dog the way Blackburn fans have treated manager Steve Kean.

He has been verbally abused and routinely ridiculed for months. The venom in the protests has been frightening, prompting fellow managers such as Tottenham's Harry Redknapp to describe it as ``horrific''.

BLAH BLAH BLAH...

yes. But this was published 3 weeks ago, and not in response to the measured and well written statement which this thread is about...

It would be excellent for a major newspaper to print some commentary on that - no such thing as bad publicity, after all.

[Pete1981]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/blackburn_rovers/news/9455728.Blackburn_Rovers_fans__website_join_forces_and_fear__oblivion_/?ref=twt

[Glenn]

I have to say a massive Thank You firstly to SAS (Vital SAS, not our SAS) for coming up with the idea and the initial draft. Paul, Ricky, Kamy and probably other people (both from this site and others) who had significant input on it, but most of all to Wen. Ste and I have been incredibly busy recently and when this came up, we dropped it all in his lap and asked him to get on with it and he (and everyone else who helped, sadly I don't really know who did what) has done us proud. Thanks Guys.

[Devon Rover]

Its a really well-written statement, which I hope will make its way into some of the national media- is this being anticipated by people who have sent it to contacts in the press? I also think the LT summary of it is helpful.

Thanks to all those involved. It definitely reflects a lot of my views about the current ownership & management.

[Ben-2000]

I wouldn't call some of those who have signed it main BRFC groups, therefore I am disappointed other Rovers supporters groups were not offered the opportunity to either accept or reject the opportunity to do put their name to it also.

[Glenn]

I wouldn't call some of those who have signed it main BRFC groups, therefore I am disappointed other Rovers supporters groups were not offered the opportunity to either accept or reject the opportunity to do put their name to it also.

I'm probably partly to blame for that, it was originally an even smaller list when it was first pitched to us, I then suggested a few other people SAS should contact (to expand it from websites to supporters groups), truth be told I didn't give it enough though as I can now come up with loads of groups I didn't suggest (Including the Darwen End).

[Ben-2000]

I'm probably partly to blame for that, it was originally an even smaller list when it was first pitched to us, I then suggested a few other people SAS should contact (to expand it from websites to supporters groups), truth be told I didn't give it enough though as I can now come up with loads of groups I didn't suggest (Including the Darwen End).

No probs Glenn,

I imagine the whole thing was no easy task and it is evident a lot of hard work was put into it.

Thanks.

[USABlue]

Predictable response from media

ROVERS FANS SHOULD RALLY BEHIND THE CLUB

By Frank Malley, Chief Writer, Press Association Sport

You would not a treat a dog the way Blackburn fans have treated manager Steve Kean.

He has been verbally abused and routinely ridiculed for months. The venom in the protests has been frightening, prompting fellow managers such as Tottenham's Harry Redknapp to describe it as ``horrific''.

A local newspaper has launched a campaign to get Kean sacked.

Now, after an uneasy truce over the festive period, comes the news in a statement that organised protests against Kean and Blackburn owners Venky's are to resume with ``increased intensity.''

Yes, that is what football has come to.

Fans, supposedly loyal supporters of one of England's proudest clubs, issuing clinical statements as if they were some sort of ruling body for unacceptable behaviour.

The statement did not lack ambition. It read: ``The aim of the protests, as from the start, will be about the removal of Steve Kean as first-team manager, Venky's as owners of the club and now the removal of the board of directors.

``The intensity of the protest will increase substantially. As Blackburn Rovers fans we have no choice but to try to ensure we preserve the legacy left by the late Jack Walker.''

You can understand fans' frustration at Blackburn's plight, yet I wonder what dear old Jack, the man who pumped large chunks of his personal fortune into Blackburn to realise his dream of winning the Premier League trophy in 1995, would have made of that statement.

True, he would not have been overjoyed at his beloved club falling into the hands of owners who have taken Blackburn into debt and who appear to have little interest in the day-to-day running of the club or of building meaningful relationships with the supporters.

He would have been grumpy at the players' failure on the pitch, although you suspect he would also have made allowances for an injury list which has seen strong and crucial characters such as Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet missing.

But you suspect Jack would have hated to have seen Blackburn die-hards using the excuse of his 'legacy' to treat an impressively calm and dignified manager such as Kean, who appears to retain the support of the players, with such unnecessary vitriol.

You suspect he would have been appalled at the suggestion that fans should boycott Saturday's FA Cup third round match against Newcastle and go to watch non-league Chorley instead.

Most of all, you suspect Jack, who made his fortune from steel, might have pointed out the value of constructive support rather than systematic negativity.

How much better if Blackburn fans saw the draw against Liverpool and the victory against Manchester United over the festive period as a sign that there is a beating heart and collective resolve at their club, despite what they might think of the absent owners.

Fans do not have to like football owners. The Glazers at Old Trafford, for instance, are almost universally reviled by Manchester United fans.

And if the Blackburn fans who make the trip to Newcastle this Saturday canvass the opinions of Geordie supporters, they will almost certainly discover Newcastle owner Mike Ashley comes somewhere below Northern Rock bankers on their barometer of approval.

It does not stop Newcastle fans roaring on the men who pull on the famous black-and-white striped jerseys or appreciating the stirring job manager Alan Pardew has done in consolidating the club in the upper echelons of the Premier League.

There cannot be too much to choose between Blackburn and Newcastle on the field. After all, they have both beaten Manchester United in the past week.

Blackburn may be bottom of the league right now but all is not lost. Not yet.

They have a striker in Yakubu with 12 league goals this season, just one less than Wayne Rooney. They have a winnable next home game against Fulham.

They have the distraction of the FA Cup, which the club have won six times - even if the last time was in 1928 - and which could be the springboard to a revival.

Is it really the time to peddle even more intense abuse. Surely reason and Kean deserve a second chance.

REason needs to come from the owners and Kean has had about a years worth, approx 30 or so, second chances. Perhaps someone can respond to thie "scribe" and point out a few things like the Andersons, Myles and Jerome, Ribiero and so on.

[Brfcrule1]

well done to all those who put time into this encompasses the sense of despair I feel about this once proud club.

I suggest to all those saying it does not go far enough well my advice to you is simple you should have got involved because if you read carefully that statement was constructed from many different supporters groups.

The credit is not just one person the individual bits go to those people and if you think about gathering the thoughts like they have of many different fans views putting it together so it makes sense and breaking it up takes a lot of time.

Whoever did that gets my whole hearted support and should be commended for trying to do something to try to effect change at the club.

If there is still a way I would happily add my name to that statement.

[bigbrandjohn]

A worthy statement but if you read the independent article it gives some indication as to the dire straits that we are in. I do not believe our focus should be on a change of manager. We will only survive as a Football club with a change of owner. That is where our energy should be focused. They are literally destroying our club hour by hour day by day. Kean is the dignified puppet who is holding the regime together. Getting rid of him could land us with Brunskill as the manager. This is a slow motion level crossing train disaster with Venkys at the controls of the locomotive and our beloved club stalled on the level crossing. And we can all see it coming.

#venkyspleasesell

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/second-assistant-quits-on-kean-6285484.html?

[Sasman]

I wouldn't call some of those who have signed it main BRFC groups, therefore I am disappointed other Rovers supporters groups were not offered the opportunity to either accept or reject the opportunity to do put their name to it also.

Hi Ben,

Sas From Vital Here!

Sincerely apologise if I missed any supporters groups. I shouted down heaven and earth on twitter, facebook and the internet to find all the Blackburn Rovers Websites and groups that I could make contact with. Would you be able to link me with some groups you believe I may have missed? The only group who passed on the opportunity was the Fans Forum.

And I echo Glenn's statement. Wen was an absolute pleasure to work with. He grasped our original statement and strengthened it from tip to toe. So Massive credit must go to Wen.

Cheers

Tony Sassine (Sasman!)

[Stuart]

Could we have a poll on this thread.

A straight do you agree with the statement? Yes/No?

It may have been signed off by website leaders but as we've already seen not everyone agrees.

[T4E]

Heard Simon on 5 Live this morning. Unfortunately again the reasons for our disdain at Kean was not explained and the presenters managed instead to drag him in to a conversation about potential replacements. Another opportunity missed.

[m1st]

Fwiw, I think that it's a very good statement, particularly in its temperate language.

I didn't hear the Radio 5 programme but hopefully the moderation of the language in the statement will carry our message forward.

[thenodrog]

The media's criticism of the Blackburn fan base is largely based on the fans attitude towards Kean more so than Venky's. The pundits don't really care about who owns the club, but are rushing to defend and protect poor old maligned Kean, who supposedly hasn't been given a chance (Malley's article above a case in point)

As such, I think the United statement is spot on in trying to explain to the Lawro's and Malleys of the world why the fans are so anti-Kean.

As has been said elsewhere, and in the media - other managers of average sized clubs may have records not much better than Kean this year but aren't subject to the same vitriol (Coyle, Martinez)..but what this United statement highlights is the real issue for Blackburn fans - sure Kean's record is poor - we don't expect to seriously compete with the big clubs - but its the lies, the dodgy deals, and the fact that he seems to be installed as de-facto chairman, immune from performance review (i.e. being his own boss), as well as being the football manager.

So thanks everyone. Very nice work.

The gentlemen of the press have very short memories. A lot of them went to print saying that we were being too knee jerk in our reaction to sack the lamentable Ince whose main managerial qualification history tells us is that he is black (the scoundrels never come back to say they were wrong and we were right do they? btw what is 'Shoot' Ince doing these days? Anybody know? More pertinently perhaps does anybody even care?

The biter bit maybe?.......

Just think if we'd kept Ince we'd have been relegated 3 years ago for certain and would be now yo-yoing between Divs 1 and 2 ........ which in turn means Venkeys / Kentaro / Anderson et al would never have got to even hear about BRFC and Steve Kean would be plodding around doing minimal coaching duties at some Portugese backwater club.

As it stands there is a serious doubt we'll be yo-yoing anywhere 3 years from now. 'Shoot' could have been our saviour!

[yoda]

A worthy statement but if you read the independent article it gives some indication as to the dire straits that we are in. I do not believe our focus should be on a change of manager. We will only survive as a Football club with a change of owner. That is where our energy should be focused. They are literally destroying our club hour by hour day by day. Kean is the dignified puppet who is holding the regime together. Getting rid of him could land us with Brunskill as the manager. This is a slow motion level crossing train disaster with Venkys at the controls of the locomotive and our beloved club stalled on the level crossing. And we can all see it coming.

#venkyspleasesell

http://www.independe...n-6285484.html?

Interesting bit in there, if true then the demonstrations are having an effect

"Venky's now willing to listen to offers for the club, attempts by local MP Jack Straw and others concerned for the future to elicit information about the company's plans continue to be frustrated"

What happened to the Qatars' , that question is for the ITKs

[Muddboy]

Interesting bit in there, if true then the demonstrations are having an effect

"Venky's now willing to listen to offers for the club, attempts by local MP Jack Straw and others concerned for the future to elicit information about the company's plans continue to be frustrated"

What happened to the Qatars' , that question is for the ITKs

Yes, that's the part of the story that I was immediately drawn to.

Has there been a dramatic change in Venky's position, meaning they're now willing to sell?

I really hope so!

[thenodrog]

Yes, that's the part of the story that I was immediately drawn to.

Has there been a dramatic change in Venky's position, meaning they're now willing to sell?

I really hope so!

BRFC has always been for sale should anybody turn up with significantly bigger money than the slumdogs paid for us. Remember the backstop in negotiations? The words that I've repeated on here that were prominent in negotiations 18 months ago and addressed to the Venkeymob... "whatever scenario comes about you cannot lose financially by buying BRFC". Hardly suprising they were suspicious is it when the Walker Trust were eager and willing to sell the club for much less than the sum of it's componant parts? It was so good and so unbelievable a deal on the face of it that the Venkeys must have been unable to believe it was 'kosher' and must have been suspecting a sting operation.

Basic horse trading Muddboy. At the first sign of interest say NO to see if a higher offer can be drawn from interested parties. When interested parties don't take the bait try changing bait. Sounds like thay have.

[Mike Graham]

Well done for this. 1st class stuff.

My brother is a footie journalist and I will send him a copy when back in the UK.

All we need now is the support of the FF after their meeting next week and also that of the Ewood Blues. Can we expect the FF to back this? It would certainly help if they or, if not then Paul Agnew and his cronies will use it against us....so please get off the fence guys!

[david_daft]

REason needs to come from the owners and Kean has had about a years worth, approx 30 or so, second chances. Perhaps someone can respond to thie "scribe" and point out a few things like the Andersons, Myles and Jerome, Ribiero and so on.

And so much more, USABlue......

This 'scribe' says we are acting like a ruling body. In a way all fans our a ruling body. It's our club, the owners are merely custodians,

the players are employees. It's our club. Without us it's a park game.

He says Jack Walker would be upset at our negative response. It's taken us 12 months to reach this stage. 12 months of lies, secrecy and rank bad management. I feel we have been incredibly patient. I still havn't booed at a match, but fully understand those that do. If Jack Walker was still here he wouldn't be upset about our response because the situation would not exist. We would have a decent chairman for the day to day running of the club, funds would be invested, there would be communication between the club and supporters and Steve Kean would have been shown the door at the end of last season. I may be wrong but maybe Jack Walker would be proud that people are prepared to not stand by and watch the club disintegrate before their eyes.

If this so called 'scribe' is going to write a story then he needs to do some research. Unless, of course, he has an altogether different agenda.

If he had bothered to research the story, and maybe spoken to a few Rovers fans, he would have found out that there has been many attemps at consructive support, as he calls it. This has been contiually ignored to the point where the futility has been overwhelming. Has this guy actually received payment for this drivel?

He then goes on to compares us to Man U and Newcastle fans, saying they will be cheering their team on when they next play. United won the league last season, although what is going on at united is dispicable the fans still have something to cheer about on the pitch. Newcastle have 33 points from 20 games and are 7th in the league, we have 14 from 20 and lie bottom. Thats the whole point really, if Steve Kean had got us 33 points we wouldn't be booing. It's not that difficult to understand. Not too much to choose between us?

The guy is either an awful journo or dishonest

Edit; I really can't be bothered looking but has this idiot written similar stories about other clubs supporters demonstrating about what is going on at their club? If not, why not?

[deftangel]

I think this is a great idea and props to all those involved. However, being hyper-critical, I think it's a bit too long and could have been written better. I'm not a grammar fascist by any means but it reads clumsily in places. Too many "ands", repeating terms etc.

One could also argue with the focus on Kean, Mr Malley's article is wilfully missing the point but a more concise statement that did little more than draw attention to Venky's broken promises and epic mismanagement of the club would make it harder for journalists to post trash like this motivated by events weeks ago.

Like it or not, we need to turn this kind of pig headed coverage around to put any kind of pressure on Venky's. The "nobody likes us, we don't care" stance is fun but will not help us.

It is not just that Venky's are "unpopular" and I would hope that there may be some outlet whereby a concise rebuttal of this nonsense can be issued.