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HereisthefulltextofaletterfromBlackburnCEOPaulHunttoMrsDesai,21December2011ascoveredinanarticlecurrentlymeltingsportingintelligence.comThanksforyourpatience.NH

Wednesday21stDecember2011PaulHuntDeputyCEOBlackburnRoversEwoodParkBlackburnLancashireMadam,Ihavebeenyourseniorofficerattheclubfor6monthsnowandIfeelthatImustnowwritetoyoutoaskyoutomakesomesignificantchangestosavetheclub,perhapsfromrelegationbutalsoperhapsfromadministration.IntwentyyearsofthePremierLeaguetherehasbeenonlyonesidethatwasbottomoftheleagueatChristmasthathassurvivedrelegationattheendoftheseason.Withthebankclosingin,Ifearthattheywilllooktoforecloseandhavethepotentialtoimplementfinancialrestrictionsupontheclubthatcould(asaworst-casescenario)enforceadministration.IhavekeptquietforatimenowoutofutmostrespectandItrustthatyourealisethatIamonlyemailingyounowasIwantwhatisonlythebestforBlackburnRoversandtheowners.Iamverymuchoftheopinionthatwecansavetheclub

andIhavealwaysbeenverysupportiveandpositivetowardstheowners.ThereforeIhopeyouknowthatwhatIamsayingisconsidered,honest,constructiveandfromtheheart.Iaskthatweinstigateallthechangesbelowinthis10pointplan.Ifwedo,thenIguaranteethat,comethesummer,theclubwillbeinamuchstrongerpositionthanitisnow.Thiswillgivetheownersthefollowingbenefits:AricherassetintheclubasawholeAhappy,strongandvaluableplayingsquadPeaceofmindthatitisbeingrunadmirablyProtectionfortheVenky'sbrandandtheBRFCbrandThefullbackingofthePremierLeagueDeliverthecommunityaclubtobeproudofAdevotedteamofstaff

1.PromotiontoCEOIamawarethatthatwhenwemetinApril,wesaidwewouldlookatthiswithinthefirstyear.IbelievenowistherighttimetopromotemetoCEO.The"Deputy"titleisconfusingtostaff,supportersandmedia.IamconfidentthatInowhavetheknowledgetobeabletodeliverstrongprogress.Wehaveagreatclub,goodteamandanexcellentrangeofstaffthatIfeelcantakethisclubforward,giventherightsupportfromtheowners.Naturally,withextraresponsibilityIwouldlikeextrasalaryandIwouldbehappywitharelativelymodestincreasewiththepromiseofagoodbonusandincreaseinsalaryinthesummerthatwouldreflecttheimprovementinposition.IamcurrentlythelowestpaidseniorclubofficialinthePremierLeague.2.Ownerstoinvestintheclub

AsyouareawareBarclayshaveaskedfortheownerstoput10mintothebusiness.ThisneedstohappenandIamconfidentthatthiscouldonlybealoanaswewouldincreasethevalueoftheclubsignificantly.Withallthespeculationinthepresstheplayingstaffvalueandoverallclubvalueisdepreciatingonadailybasis.Byputtinganendtothistheownerswouldbeprotectingtheirinvestment,puttingtheirtrustintheexecutiveteamandtheclub.Thepositionwiththefinancesisacauseforgraveconcern.AuditorsKPMGhaveputasmanyobstaclesastheycaninthewayofsigningofftheaccountsduetotheirconcerns.WecontinuetotryandworkwithBarclaysbuttheyareveryquicklylosingpatienceaswecannotgiveanswers.Wehavebeenforcedtoagreetoadditionalspendingag

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ainstourwishes(Christmashampers,sponsoringthePrincesTrusteventetc)andIamfearfulthatthesituationwillonlygetworse.DuringJanuaryweneedadditionalfundingtopaywagesetc.ScottishclubHeartsdidnotpaytheirplayersinNovemberandhaveeffectivelybreachedtheircontracts.Bylaw(supportedbyFIFA)theplayerscannowannultheircontracts,seekotherclubsandstillchasetheclubforpaymentoftheirwages.Clearly,theclubwillnotreceiveanyfeeforanytransfers.Seelinkhttp://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/12/10/hearts-stars-told-they-can-walk-away-from-club-now-over-unpaid-wages-86908-23623969/YoumayalsobeawarethatHMRC(taxauthorities)havebeenchasingPortsmouthFootballClubforadebttheyowe.HMRChavemadeatechnicalmistakeinlawandthereforecannotclaimthemoneytheyareowed.Theywillmakesureofcoursethatthenextfootballclubthatfallsoutofline,wontbesolucky.WeneedtomakesurethatthisclubisnotBlackburnRovers.3.ManagertochangeandreporttotheCEOPubliclyIhavebeenaskedtosupportthemanagerandIalwayshaveasIpersonallylikeSteve.Ihavesupportedhimfromthestartandhavebeendesperateforhimtodowell.However,Iamnowoftheopinionthatitisntworkingandheisreadytogo.Hehaslostthecrowdandasaresultofthiseveningsgamehaslostthedressingroomaswelltheplayersnolongerwanttoplayforhim.Itisashameanddisappointingbutwemustactnowtosavetheclub.Theboardshouldbeaskedtheiropinioninwhoshouldbethenewmanager.Theboardhasover60yearsfootballexperiencebetweenthem,itwouldbeatravestynottorelyonthatexperienceforthebiggestdecisiontheclubwillmakethisseason.Thenewmanagersho

uldnowreportintotheboardwhothenrecommendandendorsehiswishestotheowners.Allowtheboardtoprotecttheownersfromthemedia,supportersetc.4.Trusttheexecutive-bringusinGivetheexecutiveteamatEwoodPark,thelatitudeandauthoritytoruntheclub.Everythingattheclubneedstocomethrougheithermyself,SimonHuntorKarenSilkbothKarenandSimonareexcellentappointments.WehavevastexperienceandwithVineethaswell,Iamsurewehaveawinningteam.Theownersmustlearntotrustus.IamenjoyingworkingwithVineethandalthoughhehaslittleexperienceinfootball,heisquicklylearning.IamtryingtoestablishhimwithalltheotherstafftooandamintroducinghimtotheHeadsofDepartmentonanongoingbasis.Idontreallythinkforoneminutethattheownerswillallowthisclubtogointoruinbutwithoutknowingthisforsure,weneedtobeprudent.However,ifwehadmoreinformationonyourplans,

strategyandthoughtsgoingforward(afterassistingyouinformulatingthatstrategyofcourse)thenwecansupportanddelivergrowth.Withoutknowingtheplan,wewillofcoursebeguardedandsuspicious.Withourfiduciaryresponsibilitiesasdirectors,iftheclubgoesunder,thedirectors(includingVineeth,MaheshandGandhiBabu)areallpotentiallypersonallyliableforthatfailingandthecourtscouldtakeourhousesfromus.Myfamilydonotdeservethis.5.PRjustfromEwoodAnotherbigissueisthePRandthefactthatalotofitinthepasthascomefromIndia,withoutourknowledge.ALLpressstatementsneedtocomefromEwoodParkwithmeasthespokesman.Thatwaywecancontrolalltheoutputandprotecttheowners.IwilltakeonanexperiencedPRconsultantwhowilladvisetheboard/owners.Itwillbesomeonewhowillbeawarewhenanynegativestoriesareabouttohitthepress.Wemustnowremovetheclubfrombeingheadlinenewsfort

hewrongreasons.AfullPRstrategyneedstobeinstigatedfromJanuary1stthatre-engagestheownerswiththesupporterstheownersneedtotrustusinthisregardasweknowourcustomers.Asownersyouarenotprotected.Usetheboard(andmanagercombined)asabufferzonetothemedia,thebank,thefansandwewillprotectyou.IwanttotellthemediathatwhattheyareprintingisnottruebutthetruthisthatIdonotknow.Itisclearlyevidentthatneitheryourself,BalaorVenkycurrentlyfeelcomfortablecomingtoEwoodPark.Ifweasanexecutiveteamhadmoresay,daytodayrunningandauthority,wewouldbeabletosupportyouandtakeallthecriticismourselves.ThedamagingstoryintheMailonSundayhascausedplayers,staffandthesupportersmuchconcern.Weneedt

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oinvesttimeinstoppingleaksleavingtheclub.6.RegularvisitstoIndiaTobeabletounderstandthestrategyandtoassisttheowners,theexecutiveteamofmyself,SimonHuntandKarenSilkmustvisitIndiaonceeverytwomonthsasaminimum.Thiswaywecanbetogetheronallissuesandhelptocraftthemwithourexperience.Iamhappyforthenewmanagertobeapartofthatdelegationandwouldwelcomehisinput.IamveryconcernedthatIhavenotmetwithyouproperlyduringthesixmonthsIhaveworkedattheclub.Youhaveaskedmetodealwiththingslocallybuttobeabletodothis,asIhaveaskedbefore,IneedagreaterunderstandingofyouraspirationssoIcandeliveronthem.Ifyoukeepmeinformedandlearntotrustme,Icanbeyourmouthpiece.7.RegularvisitstoBlackburnandPremierLeaguegamesTheownersmustattendgamesinBlackburnasoftenaspossibleandIwouldsuggestthatatleastoneoftheownersispresentforatleastaquarterofthegames.ThestaffneedstomeetyouandgettoknowyoutoowheneverIhavemettheowners,Ifeelwarmandstrongandyouinstilinmethefighttofacechallengesandwin.Thesupportersalsoneedtomeetyouandweneedtogetthemessageofsolidarityoutthereasquicklyaspossible.8.HireandFireTheexecutiveteamatBlackburnRoversmustbeallowedtohireandfirestaff.Wewillofcourseaskfortheownersopinionforseniorpositionsbutwemustbeallowedthelatitudeinthis.InSimonWilliamswehavesomeonewhoisagainsttheownersandspreadsthewordwhereverhecan.IamdisappointedIwasnotallowedtoremovehimfrompostinthesummer,whenheandtherestofthestaff

wereexpectingit.Wemustactsooninthisregardandlooktoreviewotherpositionsandthengivethestaffgreatmorale.9.LostrevenueandbrandequityWearelosingfans/customersatanalarmingrate.Iamveryconcernedthatfansarevotingwiththeirfeetandnotattending,notpurchasingandnotengagingwiththeclub.Researchshowsthatonly5%ofexseasonticketholderswilleverreturn.Wearelosingsponsorsandsuppliers.IamconcernedwewillloseUmbroifwecontinuetomanufactureRoversshirtsinIndiafortheRoverStarprogramme.Theircontractspecificallydisallowsthisandweareputtingatrisk800kofannualrevenue.TheBlackburnRoversandVenkysbrandsarebothsufferingterribly.Whilsttherearenegativegoingsonsuchasprotests,complaints,mediastories,unhappyfansetc,thenbothbrandsarelosingbrandequityandconsequently,losingvalue.IamalsoconcernedthatthePremierLeaguewillintervenesoonasthe

ymaytaketheviewthattheirbrandisbeingtarnishedbyassociationtoo.Itisallreparableofcoursebutwemuststarttoactnowbybuildingbridgeswithfansandthemediaasabove.10.Supportisnecessary/FinalthoughtsIamdisappointedthatwehavenotmanagedtoprogressasIwouldhavelikedoverthepast6months.Iforonewasveryexcitedtobegiventheopportunityandwantedtoassisttheownersindeliveringstrongprogressfortheclub.However,wehavebeentoobusyfirefighting(protests,mediaintrusion,financeissues)todothissofar.Asyouknow,Iliketobeproactivebutthecurrentclimateonlyallowsustobereactive.IfeelimpotentasIamnotaskedbyyourselvesaboutmyopiniononmatters.Ijoinedtheclubtomakeadifference,nottositbyandsimplyactioninstructions.IappreciatethatmyadvicewillnotalwaysbeacteduponbutIamdisappoint

edthatIamnotasked.Ihaveagreatdealtocontributeandhavegreatexperience.Iwon'tgetitrighteverytimebutwillalwaysdomybestandlearnfromanymistakes.Myconcernisforthestaff.Theyhaveputupwithalotrecentlyandarestillsupportive.Theyliveinthecommunityandarebeingaskedquestionsbytheirfriendsandfamilybutcannotanswerthem.Theyarealsobeingchallengedatthegamesandwhentheycomeintocontactwithfans.Mostarejuniororparttimestaffwhoarefeelingunderpressure.Iamconcernedthattheyaregoingtobecometoostressedandwilllooktogetjobselsewhere.Wehavesomegreatstaffandcannotaffordtolosethem.

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Imaybespeakingoutofturnhere,butIamalsoconcernedthatnoonereportseverythingtoyou,thatis,everyonetriestoreportpositivenewsandarenotoverlyforthcomingwhennegativenewsneedstobetold.Bynothavingthefulldetails,anyonewouldfinditdifficulttomakedecisionsthatencompassallthefacts,allofthetime.Iamsurethatifyouwereexposedtothefullstory,nomatterhownegativesometimes,thatyouwoulddotherightthing.Ineedtobeabletoreportalittlemorereadilytoyouandonaninfinitelymoreregularbasis.Pleasedon'tviewthisasmequestioningtheownersunjustly.PleasebereassuredthatIdoquestionthings,itmeansIamdoingthingsrightfortheclubandtheownersbynotacceptingthingslightly.ThisishowIworkandhowImustcontinuetoworktogetthebestforBlackburnRovers.WithmyexperienceofBlackburnnowandmypreviousexperienceatthreeotherprominentclubs,IdofeelasthoughmysuggestionscomefromapositionofstrengthandcanmakeahugedifferencetolifeatBlackburnRovers.IwouldverymuchappreciateanopportunitytospeakwithyouonthesepointsbyinvitationtoIndia.Withoutinstigatingthesepointsitwillgetmoreandmoredifficulttodeliverprogressfortheclub.Icallontheownerstoact,toplaytheirpartintheinvestmentthatputsallourmindsatrest,andthenallowsmeandtheexecutiveteamtoinitiatealloftheabovepointsforthegreatergoodofBlackburnRovers.Ilookforwardtohearingyourthoughts.Withverybestwishesforabrightfuture,Paul