Blackburn pick up the bill for fans' trip to India

Blackburn Rovers co-owner Balaji Rao is paying the expenses of three fans who made the trip to see their team in Pune.

Rao and the rest of the Venky’s team had already paid for nine selected supporters to come over for the historic game, but a trio of others travelled under their own steam.

The far-flying followers met Balaji at a party at the weekend and told him their story – and the larger-than-life Indian businessman immediately pledged to pay for their visit.

Long-term fan Alan Birkbeck – known as Birdy – has also been promised that Balaji will come and visit him the next time he is in Blackburn to see his one-off collection of memorabilia.

Birkbeck has run buses and fan groups for decades and comes from a family that has followed the club for a century or so, but he was not one of the original party to travel.

The cost of the trip, including flight and hotels, could be as much as £2,000 per person. Venkys already picked up the tab for the nine they invited and put up at Pune’s posh Meridian hotel.

Despite Rovers being in the bottom three and protests against boss Steve Kean in recent games the trip to India has been rated a success - and proof that the Venky’s team want the club to succeed.

Flambouyant Balaji threw a posh bash for Kean’s team and staff, with their wives also presented with special saris as a souvenir of the historic trip.

But there was also a serious side to the visit as the official fans group voiced their concerns about communications and how the club is being run.

Kean’s future and the club’s current plight were also given an airing. And while the Pune-based Venky’s rulers are still with the manager, they now know what the fans think.

Balaji’s brother Venkatesh revealed that Kean had been in talks with them about their poor start and said: “Believe me, it was frank and straight and we need results.

“Everyone is looking forward – from the players to the manager to the owners. I am positive.We had a wonderful win against Arsenal before we w ere sliding down.

“Now after this meeting and the team coming especially to India, they have had a refreshing time, and I think they will go with a positive note after this meeting.

“I would like to assure the fans we are very much concerned about the situation. It is really painful. It is painful for the owners with what is happening.

“I would like to be honest – we will show some results and we will produce some results and make our fans happy.”

The Raos are planning to meet more supporters in England on future trips and a move to appoint a fan on to the board – first revealed by Mirror Sport – has also advanced.

Long-standing supporters Ian Currie and Ian Battersby have been on a separate mission to meet the Rovers regime and may be brought into the inner sanctum.

Venky’s have splashed out a fortune on the event and are also pledging that cash will be found for players in the January window. They ran into major problems in the summer when the bank asked them to reduce their overdraft.

The crunch for the owners – and Kean – will come in the next few weeks when they decide how much and how best to improve the squad for their survival fight.