[Archived] Premier League rule out Rovers investigation

[jim mk2]

By Martyn Ziegler, Chief Reporter, Press Association Sport

The Premier League have dismissed an MP's calls for an investigation into Venky's takeover of Blackburn Rovers and say they are confident the club will remain financially sustainable despite relegation.

Jack Straw, MP for Blackburn, has accused the Premier League of ``a wilful neglect of its responsibilities'' and called for an investigation into how the Indian poultry giants were persuaded to buy the club.

The Premier League say their 'owners' and directors' test' and financial rules work to ensure that clubs remain sustainable but cannot ensure ``competency''.

Blackburn today confirmed that deputy chief executive Paul Hunt has left the club following the furore over a leaked letter.

The letter from Hunt to Venky's was written in December and stated he wanted them to sack manager Steve Kean.

The owners have stood by Kean however, despite Rovers being relegated on Monday.

Straw wrote in the Lancashire Telegraph: ``At the heart of the Premier League's wilful neglect of its responsibilities is its so-called 'fit and proper person' test [forerunner of the owners' and directors' test].

``The test is laughable and almost everyone in the business knows this. It allows no period of probation for new owners, no assessment of their managerial competence, no disclosure of the insidious role of agents.

``The Premier League must now mount a full investigation into what business model Venky's thought they were buying and how much money has been made by those who sold them this model.

``I cannot believe that this Indian family poultry business had any idea of the financial and reputational risks they were taking on. Why were they not warned?''

The Premier League have seen Venky's financial plans - including one based on the club being relegated - and are confident Rovers will remain financially sustainable especially as the owners are trying to run it on a break-even basis.

They also insist it is not up to them to decide whether an owner is competent to run a club, or for any responsibility of success on the pitch.

Premier League communications director Dan Johnson said: ``The owners' and directors' test is an objective and legally sustainable mechanism, which goes above and beyond UK Company Law, to ascertain if any prospective owner or director of a Premier League club has been convicted of offences that should preclude them from that level of involvement.

``It is not, and cannot be, a test of competency in respect of decision making at a club.

``What we do have in place is a set of rules - future financial information, directors' reports, HMRC quarterly reporting etc - that ensure the sustainability of clubs financially.

``Whether or not a club is successful in a sporting sense has to be the responsibility of the owners and directors of that club, not the competition they play in.''

[Ralfinho]

was the test not done when Williams and co where still employed by Rovers? This must be why Jack Straw says there should be a probationary period for the fit and proper test

[PAFELL]

I do not think we have heard the last of this.

[davulsukur]

Totally expected the premier league to wash their hands of us before we go belly up.

[Rover on the Hill]

Anyone out there feel the same as me. The Premier League and the press don't want to upset the apple cart for fear of appearing xenophobic.

[Rovermatt]

Anyone out there feel the same as me. The Premier League and the press don't want to upset the apple cart for fear of appearing xenophobic.

They don't want to upset the apple cart because it's too much ###### bother.

[perthblue02]

Anyone out there feel the same as me. The Premier League and the press don't want to upset the apple cart for fear of appearing xenophobic.

No I think they fear opening a can of worms regarding the money train that is the Premier League and the many characters that are feeding off it

[Jock]

FA Meeting--

Q 'Right guys shall we have a look at whats happening at Ewood?' It might cost us abit in legal bills, or should we spend the FA's money on Champagne, prawn sarnies and hookers?'

A 'OK so its off to the brothel then'

[purplegrover]

As Kamy said in another thread, the Premier League only has 3 more days to stall and dither over this. Then we are no longer their problem. We are then part of the Football League, and the PL can say "Blackburn who ?"

[Paul]

As Kamy said in another thread, the Premier League only has 3 more days to stall and dither over this. Then we are no longer their problem. We are then part of the Football League, and the PL can say "Blackburn who ?"

This has been the case in the past, is the case now and always will be. It was discussed here months ago.

The simple fact is the PL will always stall on this issue in the hope the club will be relegated and cease to be their problem. The reason is simply the PL brand cannot afford to be damaged by connection to financial irregularity.

I've preached this for years. Sky money is at the heart of this issue. The entire concept of the PL is and always has been financially questionable funded by a company whose owner has finally been exposed as unfit to manage his own business.

Since its inception the PL has been incompetently run by the FA, the PL and the club chairman collectively (which has to include Rovers). The PL has never given two sh!ts about the supporter and never will.

English football clubs have been given, not earned, billions of pounds for doing nothing yet over 20 years have managed to amass a collective debt on excess of £3.5 billion. This gross financial incompetence filters down from the very top and is a direct result of the influence Sky money has brought to the game.

Anyone who thinks talking to the PL worthwhile is p!ssing in the wind.

[Gav]

Got to applaud Jack Straw for speaking out and keeping the emphasis on our plight.

It will probably come to nothing, all you can do is try.

[AllRoverAsia]

was the test not done when Williams and co where still employed by Rovers? This must be why Jack Straw says there should be a probationary period for the fit and proper test

Very very good point and of course there was also the Venky ''letter of intent'' which soon become toilet paper.

[dave birch]

There is one thing the fans can do, and that is to instigate their own investigation.

If enough put in sufficient, then an investigator would be able to find their way through this mess.

OK so it's more outlay from the fans, but if we are to get to the bottom of this, then pain must be endured.

One final thing... If we did instigate our own investigation, it would put the FA in the invidious position of having to respond to a possibly damaging report.

As they say in politics, never start an investigation that you don't know the outcome of.

[K-Hod]

As Kamy said in another thread, the Premier League only has 3 more days to stall and dither over this. Then we are no longer their problem. We are then part of the Football League, and the PL can say "Blackburn who ?"

Didn't someone say on another thread that because we were bought WHILST WE WERE a PL club, then the PL cannot take this stance, and it will indeed be their problem?

[Jim Royle]

By Martyn Ziegler, Chief Reporter, Press Association Sport

Straw wrote in the Lancashire Telegraph: ``At the heart of the Premier League's wilful neglect of its responsibilities is its so-called 'fit and proper person' test [forerunner of the owners' and directors' test].

``The test is laughable and almost everyone in the business knows this. It allows no period of probation for new owners, no assessment of their managerial competence, no disclosure of the insidious role of agents.

``The Premier League must now mount a full investigation into what business model Venky's thought they were buying and how much money has been made by those who sold them this model.

``I cannot believe that this Indian family poultry business had any idea of the financial and reputational risks they were taking on. Why were they not warned?''

The Premier League have seen Venky's financial plans - including one based on the club being relegated - and are confident Rovers will remain financially sustainable especially as the owners are trying to run it on a break-even basis.

It is good that we finally seem to be circling on that fcukwit Anderson - but we need to get him outed.

Hhe seems to be protected within the sporting world as can be seen by his crocodile tears in his SSN monotribe in which he was allowed a free reign, totally unchallenged to vent his poison.

[dave birch]

It is good that we finally seem to be circling on that fcukwit Anderson - but we need to get him outed.

Hhe seems to be protected within the sporting world as can be seen by his crocodile tears in his SSN monotribe in which he was allowed a free reign, totally unchallenged to vent his poison.

Yes Jim, we need to get him outed, but if the FA and the PL won't do it, where to from here.

Let's do it ourselves. Let us do the hiring for a change and set the agenda. Let's put them on the back foot. Let them know we are looking for skeletons in their cupboards.

I'll put in, but will others?

[perthblue02]

Yes Jim, we need to get him outed, but if the FA and the PL won't do it, where to from here.

Let's do it ourselves. Let us do the hiring for a change and set the agenda. Let's put them on the back foot. Let them know we are looking for skeletons in their cupboards.

I'll put in, but will others?

Count me in if it gets off the ground.

[philipl]

Much as they might not want to, the football authorities are probably going to be dragged kicking and screaming into having to look at Rovers.

No doubt the response to Jack Straw will be prime evidence in the new session of Parliament when the Select Committee gets its teeth into the matter.

[OscarRaven]

Much as they might not want to, the football authorities are probably going to be dragged kicking and screaming into having to look at Rovers.

No doubt the response to Jack Straw will be prime evidence in the new session of Parliament when the Select Committee gets its teeth into the matter.

Seriously doubt it. Very few will care about Blackburn in a few weeks.

[RoyRover]

The Premier League and press don't want to investigate because we are of total irrelevance to them. If what was going on with us was going down at Liverpool or United there would be a public inquiry. Actually they did and do have controversial owners and we can all see the attention they got.