• Under-fire Kean says his Blackburn future is secure
• Reports say chief executive sacked over leaked letter
The under-fire Blackburn manager Steve Kean has insisted his future at the relegated club is secure, with "exciting times" ahead.
After enduring a terrible season, marked by fan protests against Kean and the club's owners Venky's, Blackburn were relegated on Monday by defeat to Wigan. However, Kean remains convinced of his ability to turn the situation around, and of Venky's credentials.
He said: "Moving forwards it is going to be an exciting time for the club. We have taken a massive backward step but we have to look forward and make sure we can get back at the first time of asking. The owners are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere."
When asked if Venky's were the right owners for the club, he said: "100%."
Kean also refused to discuss reports that the club's deputy chief executive Paul Hunt has been sacked, a day after a letter in which he told owners Venky's that Kean should be removed was leaked.
Kean said: "I am aware of the speculation but I can't, at this moment, confirm it. That is all I want to say on that matter. I just want to talk about the Chelsea game."
The club's press department were also unable to obtain information on Hunt's status, further highlighting the difficulties in communication between Ewood Park and the distant Indian owners.
Hunt has been the most senior official at the club since the departure of the chairman John Williams more than a year ago. His letter to Venky's, written after a damaging loss to Bolton last December, warned of growing financial difficulties and the threat of relegation from the Premier League.
He also urged Venky's to allow him more executive power to run the club on their behalf as well as questioning Kean's suitability for the post.
Hunt wrote of Kean: "He has lost the crowd and as a result of this evening's game has lost the dressing room as well – the players no longer want to play for him. It is a shame and disappointing but we must act now to save the club."
It is unknown whether Hunt received a reply, but few of the recommendations in his 2,500-word letter were acted upon.
The only regular line of communication the club appears to have with Venky's is through Kean, who said he had spoken extensively with officials in India since relegation to the Championship was confirmed.
He said: "Their reaction was the same as ours, they were devastated. We are very numb. We have taken a step backwards but we now have to prepare a squad and the process has already started.
"I have spoken at great lengths with the owners and now we have to assemble a squad that is very competitive." Read More
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
