Kean vows to continue the fight

Soccer:Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean insists he will not turn his back on the fight even though his fate may already have been sealed.

Although tomorrow night’s Premier League basement battle with rock bottom Bolton at Ewood Park has been billed as do-or-die for Kean and opposite number Owen Coyle, the Scots do appear to be in contrasting positions.

Coyle is under pressure but it is not believed his job is under imminent threat, while Kean appears to have reached the point of no return, even though he came out fighting today.

“I would never back away,” he said. “When we win I come up and answer questions. If we lose or draw it is not something I would ever run away from.

“You have to face up to the responsibility. People deserve that respect. It doesn’t keep me awake at night but it is a difficult situation.

“I won’t turn my back on it though. I think we can get through it and when we do I will know how tough it has been and be determined not to go there again.

Although Kean’s exit has felt imminent virtually from the moment he replaced Sam Allardyce 12 months ago, Blackburn’s owners, Venky’s, have repeatedly opted against pulling the trigger.

Defeat tomorrow night would surely bring the curtain down on the 44-year-old’s reign, which has proved to be so unpopular with the Blackburn supporters, yet even that may not be enough amid talk of high-level discussions at Rovers over Saturday’s devastating 2-1 home defeat to West Brom.

Kean confirmed he did speak to the Blackburn management team yesterday, although the only guidance to his future was a positive one.

“The owners are concerned with where we are, as everyone is,” said the Scot. “But they have given me their full backing and given us full backing in the transfer window.

“We have been speaking about new players that we hope to bring in because it is important that we are active now so as soon as the window opens, we get some players in.”

Learning new recruit Scott Dann would be missing for six weeks due to a groin injury picked up at the weekend was yet another slice of bad luck, ensuring Rovers will face Bolton with a patched up defence again likely to include Morten Gamst Pedersen.

“I know what my back four will be but it will not be people who have too many games under their belts because we don’t have them available,” he said.

So Kean must have one last effort at galvanising a group of players that, on paper, seem to be a cut above Bolton, and then hope it triggers a respectable run.

As the games immediately after tomorrow are trips to Liverpool on St Stephen’s Day and Manchester United on New Year’s Eve, it seems like an impossible dream.

“The pressure is part of my job,” said Kean. “When you are in the position ourselves and Bolton are in you accept and expect there is going to be a bit of stick coming your way. You have to face it and accept it.

“We understand the magnitude of this game. It is a six-pointer. They are not in very good run, we are losing in the last seconds of games, which is disappointing. We have to show courage, get on the ball and get after them from the first minute.”