Indian firm Venkys says it is set to acquire Blackburn Rovers

BLACKBURN - Anuradha J. Desai, the chief of the Indian conglomerate Venkys, which specialises in poultry farming, has confirmed the acquisition of English Premier League (EPL) football club, Blackburn Rovers.

“Blackburn Rovers is an English Premier League (EPL) football club team which we are going to acquire. We have already bid for it and just a formality is left,” Desai told reporters at her sprawling house in Pune on Wednesday.

She added that the bid amount was in the range of 40 to 45 million pounds and the deal would be closed in coming seven to eight days.

“It’s in between 40-45 million pounds. This is the complete deal and there will be some investments too in the future but that I can’t spell it right now because it’s too early,” Desai said.

The V.H Group, of which Venkateshwara Hatcheries P Ltd is the flagship company, specializes in poultry farming and claims to be the “largest fully integrated poultry group in Asia”.

Desai said the acquisition of a Premier soccer club was in sync with the Venkys overall growth and expansion plans as it planned to make a foray into international markets.

“If you look at football for sale is a game which is very popular. People are crazy about football. In all these markets that I am talking about, southeast market, Middle East market and even in the European market, it is a very famous game and I feel that the Venkys brand will get an immediate recognition if we take over this club. This is the main reason, why we are doing this,” said Desai.

Blackburn, managed by Sam Allardyce, are the fourth team from bottom in the League, one place above the relegation zone, with nine points from as many games.

Last week Allardyce had backed new investment, who were put up for sale by the Jack Walker Trust three years ago.

Walker invested tens of million of pounds into the club and it paid off in 1995 when Rovers won the Premiership title. (ANI)