Shebby Singh pologises to Kean and Pedersen

• zocoss

  19 Jun 12, 10:45

  Former Malaysia defender Singh appointed director of football at relegated Blackburn
  

   

   

  

  Singh is unlikely to be short of things to say

   

   

  Blackburn's Indian owners Venky's have made former Malaysia defender Shebby Singh their director of football.
  

  One of Singh's tasks will be to act as a go-between for the Venky's and Steve Kean, although the manager's future remains uncertain after relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
  

  Singh is unlikely to be short of things to say, having earned a reputation for his forthright views about the Premier League while working as a pundit for Asian TV.

   

   

  

  Under fire: Kean's future at Blackburn remains uncertain

• dragg

  19 Jun 12, 10:50

  is this serious?
• tripsky

  19 Jun 12, 11:19

  love blackburn news.. bloody entertaining 

• zocoss

  19 Jun 12, 11:30

  So he can quit espn and head for the 'big time' liao and leave his espn ang mo buddies behind...

   

• dragg

  19 Jun 12, 15:24

  are they targetting league one the season after next?
• raptorf22

  19 Jun 12, 20:59

  not league one ! should be malaysia super league or S league ! 

• Rock^Star

  19 Jun 12, 21:03

  So this is FT for England. Shabby.

• charlize

  19 Jun 12, 21:18

  I can only apply for Director of Football in League one teams.

   

  I am not as good as Shebby Singh.

• charlize

  19 Jun 12, 21:20

  I can just imagine him scolding some of the Blackburn players during training for not playing football that is up to his standards.

• JoeRaj

  20 Jun 12, 06:12

  The problem is not about him having lots to say, rather it's when he's gonna shut the f up.

  Half the time he's talking cock on air, don't think the professional players at Blackburn will take kindly to a 3rd rate ex-player commenting and making decisions for them.

  Either way it'll be great comedy at Ewood park for another season at least.

• dragg

  20 Jun 12, 08:52

  will he be looking for malaysian players to debut at blackburn?
• iveco

  20 Jun 12, 10:27

  Originally posted by JoeRaj:

  The problem is not about him having lots to say, rather it's when he's gonna shut the f up.

  Half the time he's talking cock on air, don't think the professional players at Blackburn will take kindly to a 3rd rate ex-player commenting and making decisions for them.

  Either way it'll be great comedy at Ewood park for another season at least.

  
  If he has enough charisma he might be able to charm even the most egocentric player off his feet.

• zocoss

  20 Jun 12, 11:02

  Actually i think he is a rather good choice for the Blackburn owners.

  He knows the game well enough, he has kept himself up to date and has been at it for like more than 10 years and knows the English and European game well... Never afraid to speak his mind out. I find he does say some pretty right stuff on Tv although not the most popular. I actually think he is good for the previously 'headless chicken' style of Blackburn.

  Now he is their DOF, the manager has to take his views into account and answer to him too... Not bad' cos previously they got an Indian guy who manage chicken business running a football club. At least now they got an actual football man. 

• speakoutfor

  20 Jun 12, 11:28

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  Actually i think he is a rather good choice for the Blackburn owners.

  He knows the game well enough, he has kept himself up to date and has been at it for like more than 10 years and knows the English and European game well... Never afraid to speak his mind out. I find he does say some pretty right stuff on Tv although not the most popular. I actually think he is good for the previously 'headless chicken' style of Blackburn.

  Now he is their DOF, the manager has to take his views into account and answer to him too... Not bad' cos previously they got an Indian guy who manage chicken business running a football club. At least now they got an actual football man. 

  It is very easy to be a TV pundit, all you do there is criticise and comment.

  Shebby is a bad choice for director of football, he has no exposure for english soccer. His only exposure was to play for malaysia. Shebby is a better choice for football administrator. But as director of football you have to make crucial transfer choices.

  Shebby better beware, because of the nonsense from Venky owners. Venky ruined the club by making money to transfer valued blackburn players and buy lowly valued players from other leagues to benefit their transfer agents. Shebby's hands are effectively tied because he was only hired for his image.

• charlize

  20 Jun 12, 13:54

  Blackburn players and fans will go Shebby who?

   

  Malaysia?

• zocoss

  15 Aug 12, 00:34

  Blackburn adviser apologises to Steve Kean and Morten Gamst Pedersen

  • Shebby Singh called Rovers winger Pedersen a 'pensioner'
  • 'My blunt honesty sometimes upsets people,' says Singh

   

  

  Shebby Singh told a meeting of Blackburn Rovers fans that the winger Morten Gamst Pedersen was a 'pensioner'. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

   

   

   

   

  Shebby Singh has issued a public apology to Steve Kean and Morten Gamst Pedersen after saying that the Blackburn Rovers manager would be sacked if he lost three games and calling the 30-year-old winger a "pensioner".

  Speaking at an open meeting organised by the Blackburn Rovers Action Group, the club's global adviser Singh told supporters Kean would be sacked if he lost three games in a row but it was the personal comments directed at Pedersen that caused the most upset.

  Kean and Pedersen were so furious with Singh that the Malaysian was forced to apologise to both men at a squad meeting. In addition, he deemed it necessary to make a public apology through the Lancashire Telegraph.

  Singh had said Kean's promises of a strong promotion challenge had to be taken "with a pinch of salt", while he likened Pedersen, who has been at the club for eight years, to a "pensioner".

  He said: "I would like to extend an apology to Steve Kean because some things were said on Saturday. I think they would have hurt Steve Kean's feelings and for that I sincerely apologise.

  "I would also like to apologise to Morten Gamst Pedersen for what was said. There are no excuses and Morten is a great character.

  "My blunt honesty sometimes upsets people and sometimes rubs people up the wrong way. I am making efforts to bring the club back to the fans and in trying to do that I have gone too far. I am trying to find the middle ground."

  Blackburn's Indian owners, Venky's, appointed the 51-year-old former Malaysia defender in June and one of Singh's tasks is to act as a go-between for Venky's and Kean. He has a reputation for forthright views earned while working as a football pundit for Asian TV.

  The Blackburn striker David Goodwillie has been called up by Scotland for Wednesday's friendly against Australia at Easter Road. Goodwillie scored in his last appearance – a 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying defeat to Spain in October.

  The 23-year-old moved to Ewood Park from Dundee United in August 2011, scoring two goals in 20 Premier League appearances, although he started only four games.