Rumours run wild at Blackburn

28 December 2012 17:17

Blackburn global advisor Shebby Singh has claimed it is "business as usual" at Ewood Park following a bizarre day of rumour and counter-rumour at the managerless npower Championship club.

Rovers sacked Henning Berg on Thursday after 57 days at the helm and a a run of one win in 10 matches that leaves the pre-season promotion favourites 17th in the table heading into Saturday's trip to Barnsley.

When contacted by Press Association Sport, Blackburn stated no decision had been made on who would take the team at Oakwell, but Singh offered a glowing assessment of reserve team boss Gary Bowyer and his staff when denying he himself took training on Friday.

"We've got capable people," he said. "This club is well run, we've got proper people. Gary Bowyer has been reserve team and Under-21 manager for two years, he's been at the club for eight years.

"Terry McPhillips, Tony Grant (both youth coaches) - these are great guys. They've been working so hard behind the scenes and people don't realise all the good work that they've put in. So nothing of that sort (Singh taking training), it's been business as usual."

Assistant manager Eric Black, first team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms were also dismissed and reports emerged on Friday morning that Singh took Friday training alongside Judan Ali - a novice coach with experience limited to youth and amateur level and the star of Bollywood football movie 'Dhan Dhan Dhan Goal'.

Singh quashed rumours that Ali was set to take up a position at Ewood Park, insisting his presence at Blackburn's Brockhall Village training base was that of a guest despite television footage of the 39-year-old wearing club training kit.

He told Sky Sports News: "No, no - he's a guest of the club and, no, there's been no appointments, there's been no signings. None at all. That's rumour and speculation at the end of the day, what can I say? Please, I am serious now, no it's not true."

Quotes attributed to Balaji Rao, managing director of the Venky's group that owns Blackburn, emerged on Friday afternoon stating that a manager with "Premier League experience" would be appointed after the Barnsley game - something else Singh insists is wide of the mark.

He added: "I can safely say that is not true because I was on the phone with him. I've been on the phone with him all morning and no, it's not true. Someone's just decided to be mischievous about it so, no, it's not true."

Source: PA