BLACKBURN ROVERS’ controversial ownership is again under scrutiny after the publication of a remarkable letter signed by three members of the previous board revealed concerns about the way the club was being run as long as a year ago.

The letter, dated January 4th, 2011, revealed by the website sportingintelligence.com was written by John Williams, the chairman at the time, Tom Finn, the former managing director, and Martin Goodman, then the finance director. It was sent to Blackburn’s co-owner, Anuradha Desai, less than two months after the takeover by Venky’s. The document highlights Venky’s failure to consult with the board, Sam Allardyce’s dismissal and his replacement with Kean. Unease is also expressed that Kean, under instruction from the owners, had no need to report to the board over transfers.

Williams, Finn and Goodman wrote: “We now find the board are not even being consulted on some of the most fundamental decisions this or any other football club ever makes. This includes the termination of the manager’s employment [Allardyce] and the appointment of a new manager [Kean] . . . as we enter the transfer window, is your instruction that the manager is to no longer report to the board on transfer matters. The board’s role seems to be merely one of processing the transfers as opposed to delivering a strategy . . . and working to pre-agreed financial budgets.”

The letter also asks for clarification the SEM agency’s role – headed by Jerome Anderson, Kean’s agent – in transfers. Last week, Anderson defended his involvement and in bringing players into the club last January.

One of those players was the then 19-year-old Ruben Rochina, signed for €450,000 from Barcelona. His agent, Manuel Salamanca Ferrer, received a £1.65 million fee. Anderson worked on the deal with Ferrer but has said he made no money from the transfer. Guardian service