Kean disappointed with Singh comments
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has hit back at the club's global adviser Shebby Singh, claiming comments made about himself and midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen have disrupted preparations for the new season.
Rovers begin their quest for an instant return to the Barclays Premier League at Ipswich on Saturday, but - as has been the case far too at Ewood Park in recent times - the build-up to an important match has been overshadowed by off-field controversy.
Speaking at an open meeting with fans last weekend, Singh stated Kean - deeply unpopular among sections of Blackburn supporters - would be dismissed from his post if he lost three consecutive games early on in the season.
The former Malaysia defender and television pundit went on to liken long-serving Norway international Pedersen to a "pensioner".
Singh apologised for his comments earlier this week but that failed to satisfy the Professional Footballers Association, who issued a statement in support of Pedersen on Thursday afternoon following talks with union representative David Dunn and members of the Rovers squad.
The statement chastised Singh's "subsequent apology which didn't seem to retract the comments, rather Mr Singh simply implied he was 'too honest for his own good"', a point of view Kean appeared to subscribe to when addressing the media shortly after it became public.
"I don't really think it was an apology," he said.
"I think there was an apology that feelings might have been hurt and people might have been rubbed up the wrong way, but I don't really see a retraction being in there.
"So, we'll just move forward. I don't really want to discuss it any longer. I'd rather focus because it's been massively disruptive this week and we just want to get on with the job in hand which is getting prepared for Ipswich.
"It's massively disruptive in a very important, if not the most important week. I think that statement shows how disappointed and unhappy the players are with it.
"Morten has been a fantastic servant. He's probably one of the true gentlemen and it's really affected him."
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has hit back at the club's global adviser Shebby Singh, claiming comments made about himself and midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen have disrupted preparations for the new season.
Rovers begin their quest for an instant return to the Barclays Premier League at Ipswich on Saturday, but - as has been the case far too at Ewood Park in recent times - the build-up to an important match has been overshadowed by off-field controversy.
Speaking at an open meeting with fans last weekend, Singh stated Kean - deeply unpopular among sections of Blackburn supporters - would be dismissed from his post if he lost three consecutive games early on in the season.
The former Malaysia defender and television pundit went on to liken long-serving Norway international Pedersen to a "pensioner".
Singh apologised for his comments earlier this week but that failed to satisfy the Professional Footballers Association, who issued a statement in support of Pedersen on Thursday afternoon following talks with union representative David Dunn and members of the Rovers squad.
The statement chastised Singh's "subsequent apology which didn't seem to retract the comments, rather Mr Singh simply implied he was 'too honest for his own good"', a point of view Kean appeared to subscribe to when addressing the media shortly after it became public.
"I don't really think it was an apology," he said.
"I think there was an apology that feelings might have been hurt and people might have been rubbed up the wrong way, but I don't really see a retraction being in there.
"So, we'll just move forward. I don't really want to discuss it any longer. I'd rather focus because it's been massively disruptive this week and we just want to get on with the job in hand which is getting prepared for Ipswich.
"It's massively disruptive in a very important, if not the most important week. I think that statement shows how disappointed and unhappy the players are with it.
"Morten has been a fantastic servant. He's probably one of the true gentlemen and it's really affected him."
