SOCCER:BELEAGUERED BLACKBURN manager Steve Kean yesterday intimated he would not feel safe meeting with fans of the club following treatment he described as "vicious" in Tuesday night's defeat to Bolton.
A situation that has been escalating throughout the season reached its nadir at Ewood Park as Rovers were beaten 2-1 by their local rivals and fellow strugglers to drop to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Kean has been a lightning rod for fans’ frustration, not just with his own performance but also the role of Indian owners Venky’s, and a small group took their protests to the club’s training ground yesterday.
Asked if he would consider meeting with those supporters, the Scot said: “I have to take direction from other people as far as health and safety and making sure if we do anything like that it’s in a proper environment.
“At the game the other night it was pretty vicious so it would have to be in an environment where first and foremost it was safe.”
Fans have complained about a perceived lack of communication from the club, but Kean insisted plans are in place to allow their grievances to be heard.
He said: “I spoke with the deputy chief executive and I think there was a plan where the directors first and foremost were going to meet with the fans. I don’t know where that’s at at the moment.
“I said I would be available. I’ve already met with the fans in my office and did a full, open podcast. I answered every single question they asked me. I’m always very open and honest with anything I’m asked.”
Kean has been left increasingly isolated, with Venky’s conspicuous by their absence at recent games while local MP Jack Straw and the Lancashire Telegraph have both called for the manager to go.
However, he did receive some welcome support from his fellow managers this week, with Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp, Owen Coyle and David Moyes all condemning the situation.
Kean said: “My phone’s been going hot all week with people phoning with messages saying ‘Hang in there’.
“No disrespect to local MPs or local journalists or ex-players, but when you’ve got vastly experienced managers that are phoning up and saying under the circumstances you’re doing a marvellous job, then I’ll listen to them.”
Ferguson said he has never previously witnessed the level of abuse heaped on Kean at Ewood Park on Tuesday night.
The League Managers’ Association have already criticised the club’s owners, Venky’s, for their handling of Blackburn and it is known former manager Mark Hughes is not keen on the idea of returning to a club in such turmoil.
Kean has survived to take charge of Rovers for their St Stephen’s Day trip to Liverpool, with Ferguson praising his fellow Scot for the dignity he has retained in the face of such unremitting criticism.
“I have not seen anything as bad as that,” said Ferguson. “I feel for the lad.
“He seems to be in complete control of himself at press conferences and has not let events get to him. It is remarkable that under that kind of pressure he can retain his dignity the way he has done.
“I tried to phone him the other day but he is probably right to keep it off.”
The home defeats to West Brom and Bolton have left Blackburn in a perilous position, and it does not get any easier for Kean with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool followed by another away game against title contenders Manchester United.
Kean called for fans to recognise his problems, saying: “I can understand if they’re getting uptight about the position we’re in. We’re all uptight about it but we feel, with the right ability to select the squad, that things can improve.
“If five defenders are injured, there’s nothing we can do about that.”
