Dear Sir/Madam,

We, the undersigned supporters of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, call for an immediate and urgent investigation by the Football Association (FA) and the English Football League (EFL) into the ownership and governance of our club under Venky’s (Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pvt Ltd). The financial mismanagement, governance failures, and declining club stability require regulatory action to protect the club’s future. Our key concerns are outlined below:

 
1. Financial Mismanagement and Sustainability

• Cumulative Losses & Debt Levels: Since Venky's acquisition in 2010, Blackburn Rovers has incurred cumulative losses of approximately £214 million, with net liabilities of £118.1 million ([Blackburn Rovers Financial Accounts, 2024]).
• High Wage-to-Turnover Ratio Breaching EFL Rules: The club’s wage bill (£25.4m) exceeds turnover (£21.4m), creating an unsustainable 118.7% wage-to-turnover ratio, well above the 70% recommended financial threshold set by the EFL Profitability & Sustainability Rules (EFL Handbook, Section 2, p.15).
• Over-Reliance on Player Sales: The club generated £21.2m from player sales in 2023/24, a model that is unsustainable for long-term stability (Blackburn Rovers Financial Accounts, 2024).

2. Legal Issues Affecting Club Funding

• Owner’s Funds Restricted by Indian Government: The Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) has placed financial restrictions on Venky’s, making it difficult to transfer funds to the club (FA Handbook, Section 21, p. 4).
• Court-Approved Funding Only: Venky’s ability to fund the club depends on Indian court approval, putting the club’s financial stability at risk (Indian Financial Compliance Report, 2024).
• Temporary ‘No Objection Certificate’ for Funding: The FA and EFL must investigate whether this funding will meet long-term financial obligations.

3. Managerial Instability and Poor Sporting Performance

• 11 Managers in 14 Years: The lack of stability has disrupted progress and squad planning (EFL Managerial Records, 2024).
• Current Season Performance: As of March 2025, Blackburn Rovers sits 9th in the Championship with 52 points from 38 games, showing stagnation despite recent Premier League status (EFL Championship Table, 2025).
• Loss of Key Manager: The recent departure of John Eustace to Derby County highlights the instability surrounding the club’s leadership (EFL Managerial Transfers, 2024).

4. Governance Failures and EFL/FA Regulatory Breaches

1. Venky’s Breach of Owners' & Directors' Test: Owners must be financially solvent and not under legal investigation (FA Handbook, Section 21). Venky’s legal troubles call compliance into question.
2. Failure to Disclose Full Ownership Transparency: EFL regulations require all club owners (10%+ stake) to be disclosed online, yet transparency issues persist (EFL Handbook, Section 19, p. 122).
3. Risk of Breaching Championship Profitability and Sustainability Rules: The club may face penalties, including points deductions, if financial conditions worsen (EFL Handbook, Section 2, p.15).

5. FA and EFL’s Lack of Oversight

Despite clear evidence of financial distress, managerial instability, and regulatory breaches, the FA and EFL have failed to intervene. The lack of enforcement of ownership and financial regulations is unacceptable (EFL Handbook, Section 13, p. 85).

 
Our Demands

We urge the FA and EFL to:

1. Launch an Immediate Investigation into Venky’s ownership and governance structure.
2. Enforce Financial Regulations and ensure the club meets EFL’s Profitability & Sustainability Rules.
3. Enhance Transparency Requirements, mandating full disclosure of ownership details.
4. Introduce Protective Measures to safeguard the club from financial collapse, including owner intervention if necessary.

SIGN THE PETITION

Blackburn Rovers is a historic English football club, and it must not be allowed to decline due to regulatory failures and financial mismanagement. We call on fans, former players, and football stakeholders to support this petition and demand accountability.

SIGN NOW TO SAVE BLACKBURN ROVERS!

#SaveBlackburn #RoversDeserveBetter #EFLInvestigationNow #VenkysOUT