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All set to join the big boys

August - 18 - 24, 2010
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Bahrain-based businessman Ahsan Ali Syed has a 15-year plan to make Blackburn Rovers one of the most feared and successful football sides in the world.

His plan, set in three equal time spans, will start with pushing and promoting the club in the Middle East, Asia and the Far East.

He said: "My team has gone there to represent me and sign the memorandum of understanding and agree on all the terms. Jean-Claude Darmon, a famous man when it comes to French football (and a multi-millionaire), was involved in marketing French and English football for quite some time. He will be my advisor in regards to the business strategies.

"I have sufficient finances in place and a three-phase strategy plan for the next 15 years - each phase is for five years.

"The first phase is to market the club - getting them known, especially in the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Far East. Also, I want to increase the existing capacity of the stadium so that we can attract larger crowds.

"I want to also help Big Sam the manager with sufficient liquidity - you know, have good players, develop the academy so we can attract youngsters from Lancashire and allow them the opportunity to play professional football, and attract stable sponsorship. I am dedicating the first five years into making the club self-sustainable."

He also admits to being a big fan of charismatic Blackburn coach 'Big Sam' Allardyce who is yet to make a signing this summer but has secured a number of his more established players on new contracts.

"My intention is to support Big Sam in the maximum possible way I can," Syed said.

"Big Sam is not going anywhere - he is safe and he has always been. Big Sam is fantastic. He did a brilliant job gaining the confidence of the fans after being appointed manager and that is essential.

"I am a big fan of his and have noticed that even with limited resources he can do wonders. So imagine what he can do with good resources - he will be the best man on the field!

"Obviously we can help him by getting some good players in. The existing manager and CEO understand that and they are looking to have some in before the transfer window closes at the end of the month if possible. My job is to financially support their technical expertise."

Nikola Kalinic's early goal gave Blackburn a 1-0 opening win of the Premiership season over Everton last weekend.

Blackburn were solid throughout the match, with Morten Gamst Pedersen and Phil Jones taking control of the midfield and goalkeeper Paul Robinson only being called upon to make a stoppage-time save from Phil Jagielka.

Blackburn had to recover from the loss of influential midfielder David Dunn, who limped off after just nine minutes with a groin injury.

Allardyce's team earned the three points through Kalinic's opportunism, the Croatian scoring only his third league goal since his $9.4 million move from Hadjuk Split in 2009.

"It gives him huge confidence to score more goals in the Premier League," said Allardyce. "I think he will, providing we can give him the opportunity to do so."

A mouth-watering thought is that Beckham may be just the player to provide the service.

Beckham currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in US Major League Soccer having previously played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

With 115 England appearances to date he has stated that he does not intend to retire from international football, having missed the 2010 World Cup through injury and not featuring in under-fire England manager Fabio Capello's post-World Cup plans.

A regular place in a top Premiership side could help him to force his way back into England contention.







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