Kean could be Rovers boss for the long haul, say new bosses

STEVE KEAN has been told he could be the Blackburn manager “forever” by the club’s new owners.

The Scot has been placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs following the surprise sacking of Sam Allardyce earlier this week.

Venky’s, the Indian firm which recently bought Rovers, are now beginning their search for a new manager but say the job is Kean’s to lose and plan to let the 43-year-old influence January’s transfer policy.

The company’s chairperson Anuradha Desai said: “We are not making any choices now and when the time comes, we will give Steve two to three months to prove his mettle.

“Suppose he turns out to be good, then he continues as the manager — it is as simple as that.

“He has been given the time and if he does well and proves himself, there is no doubt in our mind he would be the manager forever, then.

“We will be keeping our options open but if he does prove himself to be good, which we are hoping he will, he is the manager for a long time.”

Venky’s, who paid £43m (€50m) to take control at Rovers, have previously expressed a preference to appoint a British manager, but warned the process would be a lengthy one.

With Blackburn 13th in the Premier League, it could be a good opportunity for Kean to prove his credentials.

The former Celtic player was brought to Ewood Park as first-team coach by Allardyce last year and turned down the chance to take over as manager at Kilmarnock in the summer to stay with Rovers.

He has earned a good reputation in coaching after spells at Reading and with Chris Coleman at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry.

Venky’s already seem happy to let him have a say on potential new signings when the transfer window opens next month.

Desai said: “It will be discussed with him and certainly he will be the final decision-making bit because he knows the team, he has worked with the club for a long time.”

It has been reported that Allardyce’s sacking came after he objected to the prospect of having new signings forced upon him. The owners, however, insist the much-criticised decision to axe the 56-year-old had nothing to do with transfer policy.

Desai said: “We want to take the club up to higher heights in terms of position, in terms of overall betterment of the club, in terms of development of younger players — the future. In that, Sam definitely didn’t fit in.”

She also ended rumours linking Argentina legend Diego Maradona with the managerial vacancy. Desai said: “He is not being considered.”