Blackburn fans ramp up bid to take ownership of club as supporter groups join forces

By Sportsmail Reporter

Published: 10:31, 25 September 2012 | Updated: 10:31, 25 September 2012

The campaign to bring Blackburn Rovers under fans' ownership has received a boost after a new membership scheme was launched.

The Rovers Trust joins together two supporters' groups, the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Investment Trust (BRSIT) and Blackburn Rovers Supporters Trust (BRST), whose joint goal is to own the Ewood Park club in whole or in part.

The move comes with Blackburn manager Steve Kean's role at the club looking increasingly under threat, with owners Venky's in talks about his position since Saturday.

Dejected: Kean's side were beaten last time out at home to Middlesbrough

The new membership drive for the Rovers Trust has been launched in a bid to sign up Blackburn fans for a £10 annual membership fee to give the group credibility.

The membership push will then be followed by a share-raising plan modelled on the 'pledge scheme' first launched by BRSIT earlier this year. That scheme has seen almost £3million pledged by supporters wanting to buy a £1,000 share in a new ownership model.

A target of £10m is being set by the co-chairmen, BRST founder Oliver Jones and Wayne Wild, one of the co-founders of BRSIT.

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Jones said of the new trust scheme: 'Our principal objective is to obtain full or part ownership of Blackburn Rovers and its assets on behalf of fellow supporters in order to represent supporters' views whilst protecting the club's short- and long-term future.

'Membership of Rovers Trust is very affordable for all fans and, at the very least, gives those supporters a real say in the future running of Blackburn Rovers.'