Local paper cranks up pressure on Steve Kean

He has already had to cope with the fury of his own fans on a weekly basis, but now Blackburn boss Steve Kean has seen his local paper turn well and truly against him.

It does seem slightly ironic that before Saturday’s clash with West Brom a section of supporters had agreed to call off a planned protest with a meeting between Kean and the fans agreed.

Live football at Ewood Park has been dominated by chants, banners and cat calls are demanding Kean’s dismissal and the exit of the club’s owners Venkys.

It appeared, though, that a Christmas truce had been called ahead of a crucial few days for the Lancashire club.

However, the familiar sound of boos began to ring around Ewood when Peter Odemwingie curled home a last minute winner for Rovers’  10th defeat of an already trying season.

The remain among the favourites in the relegation betting much to the supporters dismay, and face a potentially critical game against bottom club Bolton on Tuesday.

Now, the Lancashire Telegraph has stepped up the pressure on the Scot, dedicating a full page spread to their calls for him to leave.

“The Lancashire Telegraph is calling for Steve Kean to step down as Blackburn Rovers manager,” read the editorial.

“Saturday’s humiliating home defeat to West Bromwich Albion was the last straw following a disastrous run of results stretching back months. The club is now waist-deep in the relegation mire.

“It is understood Kean’s future is already hanging by a thread and that a defeat against bottom club Bolton tomorrow would push him over the edge. So why has the Lancashire Telegraph taken the decision to call for his head today?

“The reasons are simple: If Rovers do manage to pull off a positive result against Bolton, in our view, further procrastination could take place and that would be wrong because we believe the club has passed the point of no return. It is now surely clear that Kean has to go and one good result shouldn’t be enough to save him.”

With so much opposition it is surely a matter of when rather than if he will be sacked, as admirable as it is for Venkys to stay loyal to their manager – such loyalty is rarely seen in football these days – result simply haven’t been good enough and relegation will surely arrive unless changes are made and fast.