A coalition of supporter groups issued a statement on Friday urging chief executive Steve Waggott, chief operating officer Suhail Pasha and head of football operations Gestede to stay away from Rovers’ final eight Championship fixtures amid discontent with the way the club is being run.
However the club’s response, while welcoming a call for unity and vowing to continue an ongoing dialogue, was to insist that the leadership group would not agree to the fans’ request.
Fan frustration deepened when Rovers lost 1-0 at Portsmouth on Saturday, their fourth straight defeat and a result that saw them drop to 11th in the Championship.
In a statement posted on their official X account ahead of Saturday’s game, Blackburn said: “Our focus must remain on supporting the team in what could be a decisive period for the club.
“With the prize of a place in the play-offs and a chance for promotion to the Premier League at stake, unity and a positive atmosphere at matches will be crucial in helping the players and coaching staff achieve success on the pitch.
“While differences of opinion exist, our shared goal is clear – to drive the club forward together.
“As part of their professional duties and commitments to the club, Blackburn Rovers’ senior leadership group will continue to attend games – representing the club and showing support to the players and coaching staff for the remainder of the season.”
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Fan groups and individual supporters put their name to a statement accusing the Rao family, which controls owners V H Group – more commonly known as Venky’s – of failing to keep its pledge to “respect the Jack Walker legacy”.
It was steel magnate Walker who bankrolled Rovers’ climb to the heights of Premier League champions in 1995.
The statement said: “The Rao family are not keeping their pledge to ‘respect the Jack Walker legacy’, which the wider football community understands.
“As a result of this, there is a growing sentiment that Jack Walker’s legacy is slowly being eroded, resulting in an increasing desire for new ownership.”
New boss Valerien Ismael is still winless since replacing John Eustace. And he said getting off the mark rather than the play-offs is what is on his mind after their latest defeat on Saturday.
Ismael has only picked up a single point so far and Rovers are now five points adrift of the top six.
Ismael said: “The first thing we need to do is win a game. It is step-by-step, but while you are not winning games you can talk as much as you want, but it is frustrating.
“It has been the picture in many games. We are trying to implement the belief, how we want to play and create a new habit. The first thing is to keep a clean sheet and stay in the game.
“We have to stay positive. The main focus is the next game and to win three points. When you get the three points the feeling will come back.
“At the minute I’m just thinking about the next game and to win a game. If you are not winning games you can’t talk about the next step.
“Today was a big disappointment, especially how we approached the first half. We expected much more.
“We know it takes time but the players need to believe more because they have the quality.”