Kean to manage Blackburn for rest of season

Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager Steve Kean has been appointed as the club's manager until the end of the season.

The owners of the club, Venkys London Limited, had earlier installed Kean as caretaker coach, but have confirmed that the 43-year old Scot will be in the dugout at Ewood Park until at least June of next year.

Kean had been working as first team coach at the club prior to the controversial departure of Sam Allardyce this month. He was appointed by Allardyce in August 2009 and had previously worked as an assistant manager to Chris Coleman at Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry.

A statement on Blackburn’s official website read: "Venkys London Limited - Blackburn Rovers - has decided to continue with Mr. Steve Kean as Manager, until the end of the season, June 2011."

The departed Allardyce, who believes that his sacking came about due to derogatory remarks made to the new owners about him by an unknown third party, yesterday spoke of his bafflement at the appointment of Kean ahead of assistant manager Neil McDonald, who he believes has a far closer relationship with the first team squad.

"That was a stranger one for me. If there was anybody capable of looking after the reins, with all due respect to Steve, it would be Neil McDonald.

"He had a close working relationship with the players as assistant manager, he's managed before, and it would have been him to look after the football club until such time as maybe they appointed a new manager. But that wasn't to be either."