Do Blackburn’s potential owners care about football and the future of the club? Or is the purchase just intended to line their pockets?

Traditionally methods of investment have been simple. You could invest in the stock market, or open a savings account at the bank.

Alternatively, if you just wished to preserve the money you’ve earned, a piggy bank or a suitcase under the bed were both seen as suitable options.

However, this has all become very old hat these days, just ask Blackburn Rovers, who look set to become the latest side to be taken over by a company who see the club as an investment, not a football team.

Seemingly the en-trend thing to do for business men with deep pockets, the Premier League has become a light in the fog to such men with money burning a hole in their wallets.

Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich and Aston Villa’s Randy Lerner are perhaps two owners who have made the transition from the boardroom table to the terraces, as their passion and interest in their respective clubs has significantly benefited the team.

However, when the investor has more interest in their bank balance than proceedings on the pitch, things can quickly turn sour.

Just ask Liverpool’s fans who are collectively breathing a sigh of relief, after having finally seen the back of the bumbling duo, who saw the club merely as an opportunity to increase their financial clout.

So much so that they took out a loan to buy the club and in doing so burdened the club with their debt, which limited the clubs transfer activity and possible progression.

To a lesser extent Manchester United fans have found themselves in a similar position, although opinion on the issue is split.

The club’s Norwich City scarf-wearing anti-Glazer brigade are clearly upset with the debt that United have been saddled with thanks to the Glazer’s arrival, but as long as the success continues at Old Trafford others remain seemingly unconcerned.

Blackburn Rovers look set to become the latest club to feel a financial warmth, after the BBC announced that they are close to a takeover by the Venky’s group, which would make Rovers the first Indian-owned Premier League club.

At the moment it’s unknown the level of interest the group has in football, which specialises in poultry farming and pharmaceuticals, but they have reportedly held several satisfactory meetings with Rovers and the Premier League.

The deal is expected to be finalised in November and the club would certainly benefit from a bit of financial clout, as they currently lie 17th in the league.

With India being the most populous democratic nation in the world, with well over a billion inhabitants, there is clearly scope for interest in one of the planets fastest growing emerging markets.

Venky’s chairperson Anuradha J Desai is excited by the prospect of a deal, as he said on the clubs website: “We expect to be the first Indian company to acquire a Premier League team.

“We are particularly delighted that the team is Blackburn Rovers, with whom we believe we have many shared values and ambitions.”

Understandably Big Sam is also thrilled by the prospect of having money to play with.

“Investment is needed at every football club and investment here has dried up somewhat because of the club being up for sale,” he said.

“We have a strong base at Rovers, a very good club which is run and managed very professionally indeed. Blackburn Rovers has a strong history and it could have a bright future, given the right sort of investment.”

Rovers fans will be hoping with excited anticipation that the owners are dipping their hands in their pockets for the right reasons and will be carry out their promise to invest in the future of the club.

If things go wrong though, fans could well find themselves looking into the history books to discover what the teams colours were at the clubs inception.

Posted By Dan Mobbs - Tuesday October 26, 2010.
Tags: Blackburn Rovers, Premier League