Berg set for the sack

7:52am Thursday 27th December 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

HENNING Berg is set to be sacked as Blackburn Rovers manager this morning after a fifth defeat in the last six Championship matches.

A 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough leaves Rovers 18th in the Championship, just seven points above the bottom three, leaving owners Venky’s seriously concerned about the ever-deepening crisis.

Talks were held in India after the match at the Riverside was screened back to the owners with Berg’s position under review.

It is understood Berg will be relieved of his job today with coaches Eric Black, Iain Brunskill and Bobby Mimms also in the firing line.

Rovers global advisor Shebby Singh declined to comment when approached by the Lancashire Telegraph last night.

Berg was appointed as boss early in November but has only won once in 10 games and lost six.

Meanwhile Danny Murphy admits Rovers’ Championship slump is ‘unacceptable’ – but insists the only way out is sticking together.

The Rovers skipper returned to the side in a hope of revising the club’s dismal fortunes but was left frustrated as Middlesbrough’s 1-0 victory left them in deeper crisis.

Murphy insists there are no excuses and believes Rovers deserved more from yesterday’s defeat.

He revealed a full time inquest was held in the Riverside dressing room where strong words were said among the squad.

He said: “I thought the performance was decent if you take the match in isolation, especially the first half, it was as well as we have played in a while.

“We had a lot of chances but did not score and that seems to be the way we are going.

“I am not going to stand here and make excuses because to lose four games on the bounce is unacceptable.

“In that respect, the lads are feeling it and the lads are down. There were a few things said afterwards. There is disappointment and there is frustration.

“I think it is important that when we go through spells like this, we have to stick together and all dig in and don’t start looking for scapegoats and blaming each other.

“I can’t try and gloss over the disappointment about the result. It is not acceptable as a group of players. We have a good squad and good players.

“A lot of people talk about the manager but it is the players who go over the white line and we have to do more.”

Growing sections of Rovers supporters are calling for a change of manager as an under pressure Berg sees Rovers Premier League dream slip further away.

Berg said: “We played against a good team away from home. They did not having many chances, we had some very good chances but we didn’t score the goals we needed.

“We are disappointed with the result but it was another game we did not need to lose looking and the performance and the chances.”

Meanwhile, Rovers chase for Spurs’ Brad Friedel has come to an end after the former Ewood Park stopper signed a new contact at White Hart Lane.

Comments(47)

1riversider says...
8:02am Thu 27 Dec 12

If HB had any dignity, and self-respect, he would admit his shortcomings, walk now, and spill the beans to us supporters - tell us just how bad things are under Shabby, and the other two stooges.

This club long ago descended into farce. How much worse it can get is anyone's guess!

SHYSTERS GET OUT OF OUR CLUB NOW

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sallycinamon says...
8:02am Thu 27 Dec 12

Put Black in charge, he will keep us up.

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1952 rover says...
8:11am Thu 27 Dec 12

India Times reporting that Berg has been sacked/ Shebby should also follow him as it was him who chose him over better people.

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Fyrover says...
8:12am Thu 27 Dec 12

It is being reported that HB has been sacked
Come on Andy get a confirmation .

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A Darener says...
8:24am Thu 27 Dec 12

Come on
Lt has he gone???

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stick to football says...
8:25am Thu 27 Dec 12

SHEBBY SINGH MUST GO TOO

He was the man who overruled everybody else to appoint Berg.

I feel Berg has been conned by Ewood heirachy

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ChanYinCo says...
8:27am Thu 27 Dec 12

Hopefully, updates will be available soon. If this (below link) is anything to go by, then it does seem that Venky's understand the seriousness of the current situation and have made a bold move.

en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/Henning_Berg

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adcr says...
8:32am Thu 27 Dec 12

We can't go on like this. The January transfer window is opening soon so a decision needs to be made now. I don't think there is much choice in the manager's available; I would personally go for Mark Hughes, that's if he would be prepared to come. It is very worrying indeed what all this (sacking a new manager) is going to cost.


I think the biggest problem Berg has had is that the player's don't seem to fear him, and maybe they don't respect him too (the Christmas party showed a big lasp in judgement on berg's part). I just don't have confidence in Berg anymore, even when he is doing interviews, I don't think even he believes in what he is saying.

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ChanYinCo says...
8:35am Thu 27 Dec 12

Hopefully, this time around, Venky's / Shebby actually have a target manager in mind?

Or will Eric Black be given the reins again, while the clueless management hierarchy scrambles around like headless chicken, making false promises again?

We once heard whispers of 'Maradona', 'Ronaldinho', and 'The Right Mananger For The Club'... Perhaps this time we'll hear of 'Pep Guardiola' and 'Jose Mourinho'?

Please Venky's / Shebby - Do the right thing. At least be honest to the fans of Blackburn Rovers.

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J.C - Rishton says...
8:36am Thu 27 Dec 12

I'm a great beleiver of sacking underperforming managers but in this case, right now, whats the point ?? - the REAL problem is SS.

Of course HB results are unacceptable and I'm not saying he should remain in charge medium or longterm but my point is that until these Venky muppets remove Shevy "the cretin" Singh and appoint a proper CEO - one who is given PROPER authority to make REAL decisions without having to refer back to the morons in Pune first then it is ALL pointless !!

Until Venkys install a PROPER off field structure at the club then we will never be able to appoint a decent manager and progress as a football club.

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ChanYinCo says...
8:39am Thu 27 Dec 12

http://www.goal.com/
en-india/news/137/en
gland/2012/12/27/363
0301/blackburn-rover
s-sack-henning-berg-
report

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golazzo says...
8:40am Thu 27 Dec 12

Quite the opposite down the road. A club with strong traditions and choose their managers wisely and stick by them

Rovers is just a tin pot outfit with Shebby the Clown at the helm. He's far too good for the circus is that clown

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ChanYinCo says...
8:45am Thu 27 Dec 12

@ J.C - Rishton : I agree. I'm not entirely sure what his 'Global Advisor' position / duties encompasses.

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Captain Dreckley says...
8:45am Thu 27 Dec 12

So Venkys sack Berg, who next? Let's face it, nobody with an ounce of self dignity would come to this circus. Singh needs to go first and foremost to even start to re-establish credibility as do Shaw and Agnew and bring in s decent executive structure. Venkys business strategy must be to restore the value of the club then sell. Anyone thinking they will cut their losses and sell now are well wide of the mark. They are business people, successful in their areas if expertise, and need to recoup their losses in their investment. The greatest thing going in venkys favour is the painful experience of how not to do it, now they need to learn from their mistakes. And they are many. First is the executive infrastructure, bring in people who know what they are doing and let them do it, Singh and his chums haven't a clue, replace them. Next the manager, bring in a proven manager within a management structure that lets them manage without interference. Finally, as owners, stick to your area of expertise and stop interfering in the day to day running of the club, let those whose area of expertise is running and managing s football club do that. These are three core areas that Venkys need adopt to turn around the fortunes and the value of their asset. Venkys failed to understand that old saying "if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it' when they bought Rovers.

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steralc says...
8:47am Thu 27 Dec 12

This is my best Christmas ever
Clueless an classless chicken killers
In venkys we trust . UTC

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ChanYinCo says...
8:50am Thu 27 Dec 12

When news of SK leaving Blackburn Rovers was announced, a few rather illustrious names were linked to be the new manager.

How Berg eventually got the position beggars belief (personally), seeing as his CV was, well, rather amateurish.

If Berg really has been sacked, hopefully Venky's / Shebby will finally bring in an experienced manager, whatever the cost. Financially, it makes more sense to splash out now on a manager that has the tactical acumen / traits to take Rovers back to the EPL, rather than have the team stay for another season (or more) in the Championship (or even worse, get relegated to League One), no?

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Marconi says...
8:53am Thu 27 Dec 12

Andy Cryer says and i quote " Venky's concerned about the ever-deepening crisis". And so they should. Am i right in saying they may have had something to do with, and caused the crisis in the first place.

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no ney never says...
8:54am Thu 27 Dec 12

Who ever next since berg only got the job because no one else wanted it? I can just see it now...shebby singh writing the managers notes in the programme. We come to the end of another year and yet again, bstrd rovers take the prize for comedy club of the year. Voted for by the footballing world taking an overwhelming majority of the votes cast. The other 1% were disgruntaled arsenal fans upset at arsene wenger.

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Ray Gunn says...
9:03am Thu 27 Dec 12

nearly £300 spent yesterday to watch another poor game, and as i sad yesterday that if we lost that i would not spend another penny to watch that shower....it's ok the chicken farmers having another pop at Humming Bird, but when are they going to realize that they are to blame...they appointed "singh when you're loosing" who knows nothing about the game and as a whole they try to run a footy team on the cheap....well thanks for F all...the chicken farmers are the ones that should be fired..or shot at dawn....god help us!

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Dan11 says...
9:06am Thu 27 Dec 12

I sincerely hope this is true, and if it is, that the Venkys already have a manager ready to step straight into the hotseat. Berg has proven to be even worse than Eric Black and with him in charge we are heading for league one next season.

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soap opera says...
9:10am Thu 27 Dec 12

should make the shareholders meeting at ewood park on friday interesting.will shebby singh be there telling us all how well the club is doing or will he leave it to the "puppet" board of yes people

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carlmc1 says...
9:22am Thu 27 Dec 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
I'm a great beleiver of sacking underperforming managers but in this case, right now, whats the point ?? - the REAL problem is SS. Of course HB results are unacceptable and I'm not saying he should remain in charge medium or longterm but my point is that until these Venky muppets remove Shevy "the cretin" Singh and appoint a proper CEO - one who is given PROPER authority to make REAL decisions without having to refer back to the morons in Pune first then it is ALL pointless !! Until Venkys install a PROPER off field structure at the club then we will never be able to appoint a decent manager and progress as a football club.
Spot on. The guy is a complete moron and fpr Venkys to think they could use him as a spokesman for them is a joke. It just goes to show what we are faced with. The guy would not be out of place in a cricus and I said after seeing him at Blakeys that we would fail with him making decisons.

The players must cringe every time he speaks and it's hgardly any wonder they appear to be putting less than the maximum in to the games they play. They have no confidence in the man running the show and until he is sent packing, no manager will have a chance.

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To.guy says...
9:24am Thu 27 Dec 12

We should be reading that Singh has been relieved of his duties. He was the one who justified the long search for a new manager then appointed Berg to steer a club in crisis back to the PL. He is an amateur at best and yet he is pulling all the strings at Rovers. If Berg has been sacked I begs the question as to why Venkys left Kean floundering for pts through 2 PL stints leading us finally to relegation. Yes, for all those who look no further back on his CV than a handfull of games in the championship of which he lost the last, he was the manager to relegate us!! By the way, does anbybody read Burnley fan posts? I see he same words/catchphrases and skim past. They remind me of somebody that stands outside the library on a saturday shouting our sins to us and everybody walks past laughing.

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Tatts says...
9:26am Thu 27 Dec 12

If Henning Berg has been sacked then Venkys, for heaven's sake, appoint a manager with EXPERIENCE!!!

You've seen now what happens when you take a chance on inexperienced managers.

This football lark is not rocket science! You just need to place the club in the hands of experienced men and that includes appointing someone with a good track record rather than a Malaysian TV pundit with a big mouth.

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Top10StillOn says...
9:28am Thu 27 Dec 12

Afraid maybe he has to go but have a litlle sympathy as been working with a squad torn apart by the "owners" and the previous "manager" coupled with by and large pathetic signings.

We can blame Berg,Black etc but the root cause and has been since day 1 is the Venkys. Until they have gone we will sink and sink.

Rhodes signing aside (which cannot lose on when sold for profit) name one positive thing these owners have done since Day 1?????

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Miss-You-Uncle-Jack says...
9:33am Thu 27 Dec 12

They simply cannot sack berg and led shebby. It's there for all to see, he is one of the biggest problems! How can a "global advisor" overrule absolutely everyone at the club? I'm absolutely gobsmacked at how they can keep Kean in the job for so long, intend to keep him on as manager until he walks away, then sack berg a month into his job? Perhaps rightly so, but we're just going to have the same problem over again. Take a month to hire someone, again, nobody with credibility will want the job. I'm resigned to us falling deeper yet again into the mire because venkys are ignoring the one thing that actually matters here, which is shebby/hierarchy.

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BeardwoodB says...
9:35am Thu 27 Dec 12

Berg has gone!!

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Hovis1945 says...
9:36am Thu 27 Dec 12

Lot of mouthing off from Danny Murphy but from what I have seen in the home games this season he is one of the weakest links. Yesterday on Radio Lancs, with ace pundit shebby singh (no capitals for his name on purpose) I could not count the number of times I heard the comment that Danny Murphy had given the ball away. Danny Murphy you are one of the weakest links - goodbye!!

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there is hope yet says...
9:38am Thu 27 Dec 12

Now if Henning Berg has been sacked, I'm thinking Mark Hughes? And let's just hope it doesn't take another 5 weeks to get a new manager.

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moh says...
9:40am Thu 27 Dec 12

J.C - Rishton wrote:
I'm a great beleiver of sacking underperforming managers but in this case, right now, whats the point ?? - the REAL problem is SS. Of course HB results are unacceptable and I'm not saying he should remain in charge medium or longterm but my point is that until these Venky muppets remove Shevy "the cretin" Singh and appoint a proper CEO - one who is given PROPER authority to make REAL decisions without having to refer back to the morons in Pune first then it is ALL pointless !! Until Venkys install a PROPER off field structure at the club then we will never be able to appoint a decent manager and progress as a football club.
what do you expect Shebby Singh to do, go and play on field. The squad is good enough to beat anyone and we just keep losing. Once the game starts no one can influence games except players and manager. Is it manager tactics, non effective midfield?? just look at recent results of Blackpool, Ipswich and Crystal Palace who all have had a new manager, their squads are no better than rovers.

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drunken donut says...
9:40am Thu 27 Dec 12

We don't like to say "we told you so" Shebby, but we told you so.

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carlmc1 says...
9:47am Thu 27 Dec 12

moh wrote:
J.C - Rishton wrote: I'm a great beleiver of sacking underperforming managers but in this case, right now, whats the point ?? - the REAL problem is SS. Of course HB results are unacceptable and I'm not saying he should remain in charge medium or longterm but my point is that until these Venky muppets remove Shevy "the cretin" Singh and appoint a proper CEO - one who is given PROPER authority to make REAL decisions without having to refer back to the morons in Pune first then it is ALL pointless !! Until Venkys install a PROPER off field structure at the club then we will never be able to appoint a decent manager and progress as a football club.
what do you expect Shebby Singh to do, go and play on field. The squad is good enough to beat anyone and we just keep losing. Once the game starts no one can influence games except players and manager. Is it manager tactics, non effective midfield?? just look at recent results of Blackpool, Ipswich and Crystal Palace who all have had a new manager, their squads are no better than rovers.
Try going to work at a company were the boss talks drivell all the time, undermines you and makes the company you work for a laughing stock. Do you really think that you would want to give 100% to this person?

The players are working for the club led by Shebby Singh and when they cross the white line, it is pretty obvious they are NOT giving their best.

Singh turned up promising the earth and after his first public appearance was forced to apologise to the manager and the players. They do not want him making decisons and until he either leaves or stops interfering, this will not get better. Mark my words either he backs off and stops spouting off in public, or we will go down again this year. His appearance on the Radio Lancs commentary yesterday sums it up nicely. They guy has an over inflated ego, but he is a clueless clown who no other club would tolerate.

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lusorover says...
9:47am Thu 27 Dec 12

As the whole world can see Berg is not the problem.

However, nobody can touch the owners as they are....the owners. They won't get rid of the Club until it suits them and then it is highly unlikely that a serious investor could be found to take us forward.

We, as fans, have to work with what we have got. For me, Berg has not had the time to sort out the mess left by Kean. The problems are huge and go way beyond what we see on the pitch.

But this is football and this is how it goes.

In my opinion we should give Eric Black an extended run in charge (rest of the season) with an initial brief of sorting out the defence and getting clean sheets in at least 50% of games. Only from there can we regain the confidence and lack of fear we need to start moving forward.

Any complete newcomer coming in has too many ready-made excuses for failure. Black knows the players and knows the problems. His previous spell in charge showed signs of improvement before the huge disappointment of the appointment of a weak candidate for the job.

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j bee says...
9:54am Thu 27 Dec 12

mark hughes as done nowt at city , fulham, and if qpr go down i blame him he was the man that said in this news paper WE ARE THE MOST HATED CLUB IN FOOTBALL

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French Rover says...
10:01am Thu 27 Dec 12

there is hope yet wrote:
Now if Henning Berg has been sacked, I'm thinking Mark Hughes? And let's just hope it doesn't take another 5 weeks to get a new manager.
Coco the clown would be a better choice than Hughes....after all we are the biggest circus in town now. Sacking Berg is the biggest admission/evidence yet that our club is finished. Berg was just getting the team sorted. The performances were coming as it showed at Boro at times and the Jan window is here for him to complete the job and start winning games again. Now if we have someone new (coco) come in they will not know the team or the players or what/who we need. In fact Joudan Ali with help from Shebby is what I just heard will be the next managerial team...a dark day indeed for our club!

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Captain Dreckley says...
10:03am Thu 27 Dec 12

Shebby at the helm for the January transfer window, it truly is panto season. Any agent who plays to his ego will unload any old trash on us. I really feel for Berg, a top.class player and an Ewood hero but an inexperienced manager. His Rovers experience should not be a serious resume of his credentials as not even The Special One could work with Singh and Venkys. I bet those dingles think all their Christmases and birthdays have come at once with this shower. I dread to think what the squad will look like come Feb 1st, Singh will probably have brought in Maradonna, not as manager but central midfield playmaker.

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merlinrabbit says...
10:03am Thu 27 Dec 12

lusorover wrote:
As the whole world can see Berg is not the problem.

However, nobody can touch the owners as they are....the owners. They won't get rid of the Club until it suits them and then it is highly unlikely that a serious investor could be found to take us forward.

We, as fans, have to work with what we have got. For me, Berg has not had the time to sort out the mess left by Kean. The problems are huge and go way beyond what we see on the pitch.

But this is football and this is how it goes.

In my opinion we should give Eric Black an extended run in charge (rest of the season) with an initial brief of sorting out the defence and getting clean sheets in at least 50% of games. Only from there can we regain the confidence and lack of fear we need to start moving forward.

Any complete newcomer coming in has too many ready-made excuses for failure. Black knows the players and knows the problems. His previous spell in charge showed signs of improvement before the huge disappointment of the appointment of a weak candidate for the job.
I also thought we looked better under black. Just a bit tighter. I agree with everyone though that with venkys and Singh we've no chance whoever the manager is. So much damage was done them sacking Sam then forcing JW etc out and finally leaving Kean to destroy the squad, fan relationship and PL status its a poison chalice and hopeless task

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J.C - Rishton says...
10:08am Thu 27 Dec 12

Berg gone - along with Black , Brunskill and Mimms

How come Shevvy Singh hasnt been sacked - that should be Andy Cryers first question !!

Joudan Ali anyone ???? - what a joke !!

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edmy says...
10:08am Thu 27 Dec 12

The main culprits in all of this are the Venky Clowns. Look no further than them. They and their advisors alone sacked Sam. They appointed Kean. They appointed Shebby etc. etc. etc. There is no future for BRFC with this set of idiots in charge. Let the PR Bulls**t commence. Over to you Shebby

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tugay please !! says...
10:10am Thu 27 Dec 12

I went yesterday and we were average whilst going another 90 min without creating a chance for rhodes. Apathy has set in amongst the fans and by the looks Danny Murphy as well He was just as lazy as ever blaming every one but himself. Massive changes needed in what seems like every part of the club top to bottom. I wont hold my breath because even f they do change things can we really expect an inteligent, rational football decision from our chicken loving retards I think not. Never mind i will just keep torturing my self starting at Barnsey because I can and always will. Just heard all gone what next !!!

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Dannybhoy says...
10:15am Thu 27 Dec 12

Confirmed, Berg sacked. Who's next in the hot seat? Billy Davies, Mark Hughes or most likely another Venkeys puppet?

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MikeD says...
10:45am Thu 27 Dec 12

A sad day. Berg is a decent and honourable man, who will always be a legend as a player at Blackburn Rovers - probably the best defender we ever saw at this club. At times the performances have been good under his management, but the results have unfortunately not been good enough. I think it's a bit unfair to judge him so early, given that he was left with a midfield that would struggle to challenge in the second division, a goalkeeper that's at least two stone overweight, and a defence whose 'star' player has been relegated for the last two seasons and is doing everything in his power to make it a hattrick. Good luck for the future Henning. You're probably best out of this asylum.

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thommovat says...
10:50am Thu 27 Dec 12

ChanYinCo wrote:
Hopefully, this time around, Venky's / Shebby actually have a target manager in mind?

Or will Eric Black be given the reins again, while the clueless management hierarchy scrambles around like headless chicken, making false promises again?

We once heard whispers of 'Maradona', 'Ronaldinho', and 'The Right Mananger For The Club'... Perhaps this time we'll hear of 'Pep Guardiola' and 'Jose Mourinho'?

Please Venky's / Shebby - Do the right thing. At least be honest to the fans of Blackburn Rovers.
To 'do the right thing' would be to sell the cub to decent owners AND get rid of Shebby, Hendry, Shaw and that director who is supposed to be in charge of communications, oh, what's his name, now.....

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1952 rover says...
11:27am Thu 27 Dec 12

steralc wrote:
This is my best Christmas ever
Clueless an classless chicken killers
In venkys we trust . UTC
get back in your hole dingle

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Harwoodstblue says...
2:23pm Thu 27 Dec 12

MikeD wrote:
A sad day. Berg is a decent and honourable man, who will always be a legend as a player at Blackburn Rovers - probably the best defender we ever saw at this club. At times the performances have been good under his management, but the results have unfortunately not been good enough. I think it's a bit unfair to judge him so early, given that he was left with a midfield that would struggle to challenge in the second division, a goalkeeper that's at least two stone overweight, and a defence whose 'star' player has been relegated for the last two seasons and is doing everything in his power to make it a hattrick. Good luck for the future Henning. You're probably best out of this asylum.
I quite agree.....A knee jerk reaction as panic finally sets in with Venkys. We need Singh OUT and proper football administrators, who know how to run a football club IN

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Venkytrash says...
10:36am Fri 28 Dec 12

golazzo wrote:
Quite the opposite down the road. A club with strong traditions and choose their managers wisely and stick by them

Rovers is just a tin pot outfit with Shebby the Clown at the helm. He's far too good for the circus is that clown
You're obviously on about Accrington Stanley?? You do realise that you dingles are more interested in BRFC than you're own sorry club!!!

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roxey7 says...
10:25pm Sun 30 Dec 12

Went match saturday against barnsley same old same old record (venkys out & shebby axxxxx) not worth saying we are season ticket holders with our grandson & i was disgusted yes everyone as right to a say but for god sake not during a match when we are suppose too cheer our lads no wonder no robbo & pederson, i wouldnt want my son ply in that enviroment we are a laughing stock keep going on gives venkies publicty bad thou but still gets there name & use us for tax loss, get ewood rocking again & leave your bad comments till after the match back the lads on the pitch !!!!!

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