Blackburn's global advisor Singh aims for quick appointment

31 December 2012 12:18

Blackburn global advisor Shebby Singh wants to have a new manager in place at the npower Championship club on January 1.

Having led the protracted recruitment process to appoint Henning Berg at Ewood Park, Singh sacked the former Rovers defender last week following 57 days and 10 games in charge that produced a solitary win.

The former Malaysia international defender and television pundit told the Lancashire Telegraph: "We would like to make an appointment on New Year's Day to start the new year in the right way and to see the back of a horrible 2012."

A 3-1 victory over Barnsley on Saturday ended a turbulent week on a high for Blackburn and reserve team manager Gary Bowyer is set to continue in temporary charge for the New Year's Day visit of Nottingham Forest.

But Singh wants Berg's successor to have as much preparation time as possible for the FA Cup third round tie against Bristol City and is awaiting the green light from owners Venky's over his preferred course of action.

The search for Berg's successor has become another unseemly episode in a wretched 12 months for Blackburn, during which the club was relegated from the Barclays Premier League in May.

Fans reacted angrily to reports that Singh was lining up former Aston Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald and relatively unknown coach Judan Ali as part of the team to replace Berg and his outgoing backroom staff.

Director of operations Paul Agnew and managing director Derek Shaw - the other two board members involved in the selection process for Berg's appointment - travelled to India for meetings with Rovers' owners this week amid claims of a rift between the pair and Singh.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live's 606 programme on Saturday evening, Singh stated his preference for an experienced manager before dismissing any behind-the-scenes ructions at Ewood were nothing out of the ordinary.

Singh said: "As with every organisation, not everybody is always fighting the same cause. Individuals have their own agendas sometimes - this is common everywhere you go. I would say I've just been fighting the regular battles."

Source: PA