Kean in for the long haul at Blackburn

Blackburn manager Steve Kean has committed his future to the club despite their relegation from the Premier League on Monday.

A 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Wigan saw the Lancashire club’s 11-year stay in the Premier League come to an end.

Fans have protested at the prospect of seeing the 44-year-old and the club’s owners, Venky’s, at the club next season, but Kean has reiterated that both will be involved at Ewood Park for the foreseeable future.

“It’s very simple. The owners are here for the long term, I’m here for the long term,” he told reporters.

“We’re now going to take one step backwards to try to really push forward as a club and try to assemble a squad.

“I’m confident we can get there because we’ve got the basics of a very good young side, which (we) need to add a little bit more experience (to).”

The Scot hopes his experience of being part of the coaching staff at Fulham as they won promotion to the top flight will help him bring Premier League football back to Ewood Park at the first attempt.

“I’ve been part of it before, getting promoted from the Championship when I was at Fulham,” he said.

“I think the key is the depth and the blend of the squad. If you can get the right mix and play the proper way I think you can get out the league.”

Kean also dismissed rumours that had had lost the Rovers’ dressing room and insisted the players were behind his management.

“I think that the way the team has played in every game we’ve shown that our dressing room is very tight,” he said.

“We’re disappointed but we gave it a real good (go) and we made a fist of it.

“I thought we should have won the game the other night. There’s never been a question of that.”

When asked about the sacking of former deputy CEO Paul Hunt who emailed the Blackburn owners urging them to sack Kean, he simply replied: “I don’t want to make a comment on Paul Hunt.”