Samba in Rovers quit threat

Blackburn Rovers captain Christopher Samba has threatened to quit the club over the dismissal of Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce was removed this month by Blackburn’s new owners despite guiding the team to 10th place in the English Premier League last season.

The sacking was reportedly the result of a disagreement over the January transfer window between Allardyce and the owners, Indian poultry company Venky’s Group.

Allardyce’s assistant Steve Kean has been appointed caretaker and is rumoured to be in line for the job on a permanent basis.

But skipper Samba has criticised the decision to change managers and launched a stinging attack on the direction the club is taking.

“If this is the way the club’s going to be run from now on, I don’t want to be part of it and I want to leave,” Samba told The Sun.

“As captain it’s very difficult to say this but I’ve thought long and hard about it. Nobody in football understands the decision to sack Sam.”

Samba also believes the man tasked with informing Allardyce of his removal, club chairman John Williams, would have been acting under orders from Venky’s.

“I’m sure Mr Williams would not have made this decision. He’s a football man and respects what a great job Sam has done,” the central defender said.

“We could have been relegated last year and Sam saved the club, so how can he be treated like this now?”

“The players and fans need answers about the club’s future. Unless we commit to who the manager is, how can we attract big players in January?”