Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn Rovers postpone trip to India for security reasons
Blackburn's pre-season troubles have taken another turn for the worse after they ditched a planned trip to India amid claims of player unrest.[LNB]Manager Steve Kean was already reeling from a cut in his transfer budget after owners Venky's were ordered to reduce their overdraft.[LNB]Kean had lined up a list of high-profile targets but was forced to revise it after Venky's reacted to the instruction from their bank by limiting the amount available for signings.[LNB] No go: Blackburn have postponed their trip to India, homeland of owners Venky's[LNB]If the pressure was already growing on Kean, it showed no sign of easing after the club scrapped plans to become the first Barclays Premier League club to play in India. [LNB]The one-off game was due to be staged in Pune but was shelved in the wake of the fatalities caused by explosions that ripped through Mumbai, less than 130 miles away, last week.[LNB]The terror bombs claimed 18 lives and left 130 wounded and led to demands from anxious Blackburn players about implementing safety measures ahead of their scheduled flight on Thursday.[LNB]News that Blackburn bosses had erred on the side of caution and decided against flying out was met with widespread relief among Kean's squad.[LNB]A club insider said: 'None of the players wanted to go because they were worried about their safety and who could blame them. They felt they would have been a prime target. Several members of the squad had already decided they would refuse to go.'[LNB] Plans: Steve Kean expects Blackburn to make the trip later this year[LNB]Kean, who is trying to bolster his midfield and attack on reduced funds, played down suggestions of a revolt.[LNB]'The players were looking for guidance, and as long as everything was explained to them, they were fine as a group,' he said. 'The trip is not cancelled. It is postponed to another date because of the activity out there.[LNB]'The board had a meeting with the owners and decided we had to go through a number of different checks. That trip will now take place at the beginning of October.'[LNB]A joint statement from the club and the owners said: 'Safety is always our top priority and, after detailed discussions with our security and legal advisers, we have been left with no option other than to postpone. We are now looking forward to the trip to India in a few weeks time.'[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEDiouf to return to Blackburn two weeks late as forward faces Ewood Park chopAccrington 1 Blackburn 2: Striker Kalinic fires a reminder to boss KeanAll the latest Blackburn news, features and opinion [LNB]
