Steve Kean Leaves Blackburn Rovers Post

Saturday, 29th September, 2012

Steve Kean has resigned as Blackburn Rovers manager – but insists he was left with no choice but to go.

The Scot succeeded Sam Allardyce as Rovers manager in December 2010, though quickly saw the fans turn against his reign and begin to protest for his removal.

relatedNewsStory However, Blackburn’s Indian owners Venky’s stuck with Kean, even when the club were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.

This season, Rovers have started life in the Championship well and appear set for a promotion push – though that will not take place under Kean.

"For reasons that I cannot discuss on legal advice, it is with deep regret, given my hard work and service for the club for a number of years, that I have been forced to resign as manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect, due to my position as team manager becoming untenable", said Kean through a statement issued by his lawyers.

"I wish to thank all the players and coaching staff for their great support and the majority of the fans, who now see their club heading towards an automatic promotion position back to the Premier League. I wish the club all the very best for the future", the statement added.

Attendances at Ewood Park had been falling with fans calling for a boycott until Kean was removed from his post.

For Blackburn’s most recent home game, a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough, only 13,405 filled the ground, more than 9,000 less than the club’s average in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen who Blackburn will appoint, but early front-runners for the post include former Rovers midfielder Tim Sherwood, ex-striking great Alan Shearer and former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp.