STEVE Kean has labelled Jack Straw’s criticisms of him as “astounding” after insisting it is the support of “experienced managers” that he will listen to.
The Blackburn Rovers boss is facing mounting calls from the local community for his managerial departure but, ahead of Boxing Day’s trip to Liverpool, a defiant Kean was adamant he would not let it affect him.
Blackburn MP Jack Straw called for Venky’s to “ask Steve Kean to leave” on Wednesday, echoing the Lancashire Tele-graph’s call on Monday for the beleagured boss to step down.
Club matriarch Anuradha Desai is still staying loyal to Kean, despite being advised from all quarters his position is untenable, and he will take charge of the team at Anfield on Monday.
A number of Premier League managers have spoken up for Kean in recent days, following Tuesday night’s protests against him, and Kean insists it is their words he will be listening to.
He said: “I have spoken to a lot of managers directly saying ‘you have had a bad time because you have a few injuries but if you had a full squad to select from it would be different’. That is nice to hear.
“I know the local paper or some ex-players have been having a little bit of a pop, or even MPs which is astounding, absolutely astounding.
Ewood park Blackburn
“When there are managers who have been round the block saying ‘hang in there, you are doing great’, then I will take that all day rather than an ex-players who have never been a manager, rather than an MP.
“I have got a lot of support from some very experienced managers. No disrespect to MPs, local journalists or ex-players, when I get experienced managers telling me I am doing a ‘marvellous job’ I listen to them.”
When quizzed about the financial future of the football club, Kean insisted he was not in the position to answer questions on that subject.
A club spokesperson told us to ‘put these questions to the club and see what answers you get back’. The Lancashire Telegraph hascontinuously attempted to contact the club’s owners on this subject, with no success.
Kean said: “All I can do is talk about games, results, transfer window or substitutions. The finance of the club has got nothing to do with me, you would be better off speaking to Paul Hunt.
“It is up to the directors, they are much more qualified to talk about the overdraft of the club or what has been invested over the last four or five years. I would not know that.
“I am sure that will come. I can only given explanations on the football side of things. I will never duck a conference and say I have sent someone else I will answer the questions.”
Meanwhile Rovers boss Kean is understood to be targeting Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha and Fulham striker Andy Johnson.
