Blackburn manager Steve Kean has hit back at further protests from fans of the club by repeating he will not buckle under the pressure.
Under-fire Ewood Park boss still ignoring the critics
Blackburn manager Steve Kean has hit back at further protests from fans of the club by repeating he will not buckle under the pressure.
The Scot has been subject to almost relentless criticism during his year in charge at Ewood Park and he was again viciously targeted with calls for his head during Tuesday's defeat by Bolton.
Injury-hit Blackburn will consequently spend Christmas at the foot of the Premier League and their dire position only increases the unrest of fans, who are unhappy with the club's owners, Venky's.
Further protests took place outside the club's training ground on Friday ahead of Boxing Day's trip to Liverpool, but Kean is adamant he is going nowhere.
Asked if he feels as though he is the man in the middle between disgruntled Blackburn followers and Venky's, he said at his pre-Liverpool press conference, which was broadcast on
Sky Sports News: "No, I don't feel that.
"I feel as though, if we were in a position where we had more of the lads to select, we would be in a different position.
Doubters
"These type of questions wouldn't be asked. But I am answering them as honestly as I can. I will never duck a press conference. I will never send one of the other staff out.
"I feel as though I should be answering the questions and I am as up front as I always am with you."
Sir Alex Ferguson will aim to increase Kean's misery when Blackburn travel to Manchester United on New Year's Eve.
But the Old Trafford manager also revealed earlier on Friday he had tried to telephone his fellow Scot in order to offer backing in the face of the condemnation.
"I have also got a lot of support from some very experienced managers," said Kean when asked about his doubters.
"No disrespect to local MPs or local journalists or ex-players, when you have got vastly experienced managers that are phoning me up and saying, 'under the circumstances, you are doing a marvellous job', then I will listen to them."
Meanwhile, Kean also intimated he would not feel safe meeting with fans of the club following treatment he described as "vicious" in Tuesday night's defeat by Bolton.
Asked if he would consider meeting with those supporters, the Scot said: "I have to take direction from other people as far as health and safety and making sure if we do anything like that it's in a proper environment.
"At the game the other night it was pretty vicious so it would have to be in an environment where first and foremost it was safe."
Fans have complained about a perceived lack of communication from the club, but Kean insisted plans are in place to allow their grievances to be heard.
He said: "I spoke with the deputy chief executive and I think there was a plan where the directors first and foremost were going to meet with the fans. I don't know where that's at at the moment.
"I said I would be available. I've already met with the fans in my office and did a full, open podcast. I answered every single question they asked me.
"I'm always very open and honest with anything I'm asked."
