Skip to main content

Nick Harris: FA investigate Blackburn Rovers

102 shares 5

View comments

While the chaos at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers continues unabated amid a civil war between senior executives and reports that finance director Karen Silk has quit in desperation, Inside Sport can reveal that the Football Association have been investigating events at Ewood Park dating back more than two years.

The FA's head of integrity, David Newton, is leading the investigation and documents seen by Inside Sport show he is looking at situations surrounding the takeover of Rovers in 2010 as well as control of the club since then and the involvement of agents and advisers.

'This is an ongoing matter,' said an FA source last week.

Revolving door: Gary Bowyer is back in the manager's chair at Blackburn

Meanwhile Silk, an experienced football executive who moved to Blackburn from Stoke in 2011, is claimed to have become exasperated with matters at the club, although a Rovers spokesman refused to comment on suggestions that she had resigned and is serving her notice.

    More from Nick Harris...   Nick Harris: Murray and Co chase £1.5m as Wimbledon chiefs raise prize money to record £20m 20/04/13   Tiger got away with it because golfing rules allow for discretion 13/04/13   Nick Harris: We can't protect players from fake agents, say FA 30/03/13   NICK HARRIS: Premier League stars at risk of ruin with £1bn in 'tax relief' schemes 23/03/13   All to play for in the League One battle of the basket cases 23/03/13   Nick Harris: Hammers mortgage £60m of TV money in bid to manage debts 16/03/13   Nick Harris: Is Suarez on the way to Atletico Madrid as Chelsea line up Falcao? 09/03/13   Nick Harris: No pay from PSG.. but Beckham reveals record £20million profit for 2012 02/03/13   VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  

Blackburn are owned by poultry conglomerate Venky's, whose chairwoman, Anuradha Desai, holds ultimate control over the club from her base in Pune, in south-west India.

The power struggle within Ewood is between managing director Derek Shaw and his key ally, operations director Paul Agnew, on one hand, and Venky's 'global advisor', Shebby Singh, on the other.

That trio, plus caretaker manager Gary Bowyer, all spent time in India last week to discuss who was responsible for a variety of recent events perceived as 'avoidable setbacks' by Mrs Desai.

Inside Sport has seen correspondence from Mrs Desai to Shaw last month over a clause in former manager Henning Berg's contract that had allegedly been removed without her knowledge.

The correspondence says that the owners 'feel completely cheated' over the issue.

The key clause limited Berg's compensation in the event of sacking to one year's salary, or £650,000, and Mrs Desai personally approved the contract on that basis.

When Berg was sacked in December after 57 days in charge, Mrs Desai is said to have been alarmed that Berg was able to claim for closer to £2million. His claim is still being negotiated.

When Berg departed, Singh felt Bowyer should be given a chance, not least after he won three and drew one of his four games as stand-in. But Michael Appleton was appointed by Shaw and with Agnew's support, say sources, before he, too, was sacked last month after four wins in 15 games.

Bowyer, a long-serving Blackburn employee, is back in charge. He held private talks with Mrs Desai in Pune and was assured by her that he would remain manager for the rest of the season.

Roman's gulag escape

The last thing Roman Abramovich would want is to fall out with Russia's President, Vladimir Putin.

But a spell in the gulags beckoned over the televising of Russia's friendly international against Brazil at Stamford Bridge last month.

Putin's government recently banned all advertising for alcoholic drinks on Russian TV.

It wasn't me: Roman Abramovich was not responsible for alcohol adverts at Stamford Bridge

So eyebrows were raised when Russian viewers watching the match were treated to an array of perimeter adverts for vodka, whisky and beer.

It was initially believed that Chelsea had sold the space, potentially putting Abramovich in hot water with Putin.

But an investigation showed the adverts had been digitally 'overlaid' from Moscow by the TV company and it is the broadcaster - not the oligarch - now facing a backlash.

Di Canio in derby day bother

As Paolo Di Canio prepares for his first Tyne-Wear derby as manager of Sunderland - they face Newcastle at St James' Park - Inside Sport can reveal how he got so carried away by the frenzy of a derby match at his former club, Swindon, that he is alleged to have ended up making violent gestures towards officials from the visiting team.

Sources from both Swindon and Oxford United claim an enraged Di Canio made a neck-slashing gesture and told Oxford officials 'I will knife you' after he had been sent to the stands by referee Mark Haywood during the League Two derby clash in August 2011.

Di Canio later apologised to Kelvin Thomas, the Oxford chairman.

Derby record: Paolo Di Canio got in trouble as Swindon boss during derby games

The referee had warned both managers, Di Canio and Oxford's Chris Wilder, against behaviour that might incite the crowd. Despite that, Di Canio celebrated Swindon's equaliser - they eventually lost 2-1 - by racing 40 yards down the touchline and when an offside call cost Swindon a second equaliser, he was sent to the stands for dissent by Haywood.

One witness recalled: 'He went up into the directors box, three rows in front of the Oxford contingent.'

There, Di Canio kept standing up, leading to Thomas and others asking him to sit down.

Di Canio is alleged to have replied: 'You don't tell me what to do.'

After being told to keep quiet by an Oxford physio, sources from both clubs claim Di Canio made a neck-slashing gesture and said: 'I will knife you.'

'It was definitely a high tension day,' Thomas told Inside Sport.

  More... Blackburn's owners are killing a great club, says former Rovers defender Salgado EXCLUSIVE: Blackburn leak that reveals it is civil war at relegation-threatened club Blackburn 2 Derby 0: Rhodes strikes again to lift Rovers clear of relegation zone



Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o