BLACKBURN Rovers’ owners have again insisted manager Steve Kean’s Ewood Park future is safe following a major gamble on him yesterday to be the next Premier League casualty.

The odds on the under-fire Scot to be axed by Rovers owners Venky’s were slashed by all leading bookmakers yesterday morning, sparking intense speculation that the Rao family’s patience had finally run out.

Less than three weeks ago, Venky’s chairman Anuradha Desai was forced into an official statement supporting Kean after a national newspaper claimed he was set for the sack.

Mrs Desai then insisted there “was no question” of a managerial change and, despite being just one point clear of relegation after a six-match winless league run, their stance remains unchanged.

A Venky’s source has now called for the constant speculation about Kean’s future to stop and, insisting he will remain Rovers boss, believes all it is doing is taking the focus away from their scrap for survival.

Co-owner Venkatesh Rao told the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday he had ‘no idea’ where the rumours were coming from but was again categorical in his support for Kean.

He said: “There is absolutely nothing to talk about. I don’t know why these stories keep arising and I don’t understand it. There is nothing else to say on it.”

Kean was made odds-on to be the next managerial casualty yesterday by all the major bookmakers, with Paddy Power putting him as short as 4-9.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said the betting had originated from the Blackburn area and spread outwards, while a William Hill spokesperson said moves like this were “rarely wide of the mark”.

Kean has endured constant speculation about his future ever since surprisingly being named as Sam Allardyce’s successor back in December.

The managerial novice has since come under pressure from the Ewood Park crowd after a run of disappointing results but Venky’s faith in him has not waivered.

They remain convinced Kean can take the club forward and believe Rovers’ second half fight back against Blackpool last weekend showed the squad are still playing for their boss.

A source close to the owners, said: “Again there is no truth in the rumours and it isn’t helping anyone. We don’t know why people are saying these things but we wish they wouldn’t. It is not helping anyone.”