THE Rovers Trust, the official supporters trust for Blackburn Rovers, have released the results of a survey which they believe show a significant number of fans are no longer willing to put money into the club under its current owners.

The Trust canvassed its members to discover the extent of financial support to be shown by fans in the club’s first season without Premier League parachute payments following relegation in 2012.

There were 1,238 replies to the survey, 48 per cent of which came from current season ticket holders, with 73 per cent of the remaining respondents having previously held a season ticket.

The survey showed that 40 per cent of current season ticket holders do not intend to renew their season ticket next season.

The survey went on to ask supporters if their intentions would change should Rovers owners Venky’s accept an offer to sell outright or sell a significant share of the club.

The results show that 90 per cent of respondents said they would either renew their current Rovers season ticket or consider buying one if a bid from Seneca Partners was accepted.

Yesterday Venky’s issued a statement denying they had ‘received a proposal for joint ownership of the club’ and that they ‘have no intention of selling or diluting our stake in any manner’.

Ian Battersby, who runs Seneca, along with fellow Rovers fan Ian Currie, said the company, ‘over two weeks ago’, had ‘approached the owners, in writing, with suggestions about how we might work with them both operationally and financially to try to turn the club around from its current plight’.

The survey also showed that 75 per cent of respondents would, in principle, be prepared to contribute financially to a share purchase if the Trust was to seek a shareholding in any new structure.

If share benefits were attached to long-term commitment, then 75 per cent of respondents said they would be happy to purchase five-year season tickets.

The survey also asked if, under a new ownership structure, fans would be prepared to financially commit to the club over and above a season ticket, with 55 per cent supporting the concept of private members lounges and 26 per cent prepared to sponsor the club through their business.

The Rovers Trust said: “There is a clear message that a significant number of Blackburn Rovers supporters want regime change and many are making an unequivocal statement to the owners that they are no longer prepared to put money into the club.

“If the owners continue with their refusal to communicate meaningfully with fans, it’s not just Rovers season ticket sales that suffer. Additional match day revenues will fall, merchandise sales will plummet.

“Football, above any other industry, feeds on the relationship between club and supporters. If you break this, you are left with nothing.

“The Rovers Trust continues to seek communication and dialogue with the owners of Blackburn Rovers, who have made no attempts to make contact with the Trust since they took over the club.

“Fans rightly feel alienated from their club right now, but are sending out a message that they will wholeheartedly support new owners.”