Lancashire police jail two chickens

Mr.Crinklewood · 28-12-2010 10:45am #1

Photo: PA
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 11:39PM GMT 27/12/2010
Steve Kean, the Blackburn manager, insists the club have a bright future under new owners Venky’s, despite supporter protests which led to police holding live chickens in an Ewood Park cell.

Fans vented frustrations against the Indian poultry producers during Sunday’s defeat against Stoke City at Ewood Park. The chickens, one of which was dressed with a Blackburn scarf, were let loose prior to the game, during which fans chanted “Venky’s Out” and sang the name of the club’s late benefactor, Jack Walker.

Another chicken was confiscated prior to the game having been found by a turnstile operator, while Lancashire Police confirmed that two chickens were detained in a police cell at the ground.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “A cockerel and a hen were released in the concourse in the Darwen End Stand. The chickens were then put in a police cell until they were collected after the game.”

With fan anger rising towards Venky’s following the sacking of Sam Allardyce last month and rumours of transfer targets being influenced by Kentaro, the group who advised Venky’s during the takeover process, fans also attempted to stage a sit-in at the end of the Stoke game. Rovers chairman John Williams was confronted by a small group of supporters.

Having replaced Allardyce with unproven first-team coach Kean, Venky’s has seen Blackburn pick up just a point from two home games.

And despite completing the takeover of the club on only Nov 19, the new owners were subjected to prolonged and vocal opposition from fans as Stoke secured a 2-0 victory.

Allardyce’s dismissal has also led to anger in the first-team squad, with Chris Samba being stripped of the captaincy after demanding to leave in the wake of the managerial change.

But Kean, who takes his team to West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday, says he has now won over the senior players opposed to Allardyce’s sacking.

“I spoke to the senior players as soon as Sam had left and I told them I would try and get some answers for them [from the owners] as soon as I could,” he said. “Since I came back from India last week and explained to them what is happening, there has not been a negative vibe.

“They have been reassured with what is happening. I think the players are excited by the future here.”

Kean is expected to be given a budget of around £5 million for new signings next month. “We have some long-term injuries - Phil Jones is a long-term injury and Jason Roberts is out for at least a month together with other central-midfield injuries - so it means we need more bodies.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/blackburn-rovers/8227641/Chickens-jailed-over-Blackburn-Rovers-fans-fowl-play.
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