Venky's warn Rovers fans to be realistic

Blackburn’s prospective new owners have warned fans to have realistic expectations about their takeover.

Venkateshwara Hatcheries, popularly known as Venky’s, yesterday moved closer to becoming the first Indian owners of a Premier League team in a £46m (€52.6m) deal.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has already welcomed the prospect of fresh investment, but although Venky’s have vowed to pump in additional money to “get the club back into good shape”, they do not appear willing to splash the money on high-profile names.

VH Group chairperson Anuradha Desai said: “We won’t need to buy expensive players, we can always lease (loan) them.”

Desai has also set a realistic goal for the club, which currently lies 17th in the Premier League, outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

“We don’t expect to be in the top five of the Premier League. We will be happy to be in the top 10-12,” she told the Economic Times.

The 47-year-old, however, insisted the company did not have any financial issues.

“The club has no major losses...That is not a major financial issue nor does it have accumulated debt,” she said.

“We will pump in whatever is needed but the main thing is to get the club back into good shape. This is an investment and it will grow on its own strength.”