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Black shakes hands with Charlton boss Chris Powell after yesterday's draw. PA Wire/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Who's the boss?

Black plays down talk of Venky's meddling

Eric Black says he is in charge of team affairs at Ewood Park, but he’s not sure for how long.

BLACKBURN ROVERS CARETAKER Eric Black insists the club’s Indian owners Venky’s have not meddled in team selection after former boss Steve Kean claimed his position with the Championship team had been made untenable.

Kean resigned less than 24 hours before yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Charlton and reports in England suggested he had grown disillusioned with attempts by Venky’s to influence which players were in the team.

But Black is adamant he had never seen any interference and didn’t have to speak to them before naming his side for the Charlton clash.

“There was none whatsoever from the owners,” he said. “I named the team last night with the help of the coaches.”

With Kean, controversially appointed by Venky’s as Sam Allardyce’s replacement in 2010, finally out of Ewood Park after enduring months of abuse from Rovers fans, the next question is who will be hired to take charge of the club’s bid for a quick return to the Premier League.

Rovers are understood to have already approached Tottenham for talks with their coach and former Blackburn captain Tim Sherwood, who led the club to the Premier League title in 1995, while Rovers legend Alan Shearer has also been linked with the role.

Black admitted he has been given no indication from the owners about how long he will be in charge for.

“I haven’t,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll speak to them. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind 24 hours. I’m sure there will be discussions at some time.

“We have to respect Steve’s decision to do what he did and we move on.

“I didn’t expect it last night, but it’s his decision and I fully respect it. There will be a lot of speculation but the owners will make that decision.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle launched a verbal attack on referee Geoff Eltringham after a controversial late Glenn Murray penalty saw Crystal Palace end his side’s unbeaten home run.

Palace’s Wilfried Zaha was tripped by Zat Knight in the 80th minute and Murray coverted the penalty, but Bolton had two appeals for spot-kicks turned down and Coyle felt his team had been harshly treated.

“It was the biggest penalty you will ever see in the first half, (Palace defender) Darcy Blake was like Julian Speroni in goal,” Coyle said.

“It was a soft penalty we conceded and it’s happened to us now three times and has ultimately cost us the game.

“Goals change games and this result’s really hard to take. We just want an even break and we are clearly not getting that at the moment.”

Elsewhere

Meanwhile, Leeds won 3-2 at Bristol City, Cardiff thrashed Blackpool 3-0 and Watford defeated Huddersfield 3-2.

Peterborough won 3-1 at Hull to claim their first points of the season after seven successive defeats, while Wolves beat struggling Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.

Leicester defeated Middlesbrough 2-1, Burnley drew 2-2 with Millwall and Barnsley drew 1-1 with Ipswich.

- © AFP, 2012

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