29 October,2010 09:10 AM IST | | Agencies
Blackburn's prospective Indian owners will get a first look at their new club when Premier League champions Chelsea visit Ewood Park on Saturday.
Rovers host Chelsea on the back of a three-match run without a win, which puts the Lancashire side just one place above the relegation zone.
But off the pitch all the talk is of the takeover by Indian poultry and pharmaceutical company Venky's, who are set to complete a reported 46 million pounds (73 million dollars) deal next month.
Balaji and Venkatesh Rao, brothers of Venky's head Anuradha Desai, will be in attendance at Ewood Park, where Rovers have not won in the league since the opening day of the season.
The Rao brothers will no doubt find the mood of the fans less than buoyant, as the side are out of the bottom three on goal difference alone.
At least manager Sam Allardyce is likely to have his first-choice defensive pair Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen back for the Chelsea game.
Both missed last week's 2-1 loss to Liverpool, with Samba serving a one-match suspension and Nelsen being ruled out with a hamstring strain.
And Allardyce admitted their absence was key as defensive errors gifted struggling Liverpool with the win.
He said: "Our loss of Samba and Nelsen was telling in our inability to deal with set-pieces against Liverpool.
"It was a real frustration. The size of the squad was tested to the full and we weren't able to stand up at Anfield because of the key players missing.
"It was a lack of professionalism and it is my responsibility to get the players more respsonsible for their actions in basic areas."
Desai will give Allardyce five million pounds (7.9 million dollars) for new players in the next transfer window, but it will be next year at least before Rovers can enjoy the true fruits of the financial backing of Venky's, one of the world's largest poultry and pharmaceutical companies.
"Initially there will be five million pounds put in, straightaway, to buy players but of course if we have to do more then we will," Desai said.
"There will then be much more investment and we have devised a spending strategy already for the next three years that will see the manager given significant funds to buy players.
"I am not promising that we will be a top four team but I can promise that we will try and that is what we will aim for."
Chelsea, conversely, have reined in their spending of late, to absolutely no detriment to their league fortunes.
They sit at the top of the Premier League, five points clear of Arsenal, having lost just once all season.
And assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes the players coming through from the youth system will continue to keep the club successful.
English teenage midfielder Josh McEachran has been earning good reviews after three substitute appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side - particularly in the absence of England star Frank Lampard.
Lampard is unlikely to play on Saturday but Wilkins has no qualms about throwing the 17-year-old McEachran into the action.
He said: "I get thrilled for him and thankfully he does not appear to show too many nerves. It is lovely for everyone when a home-grown guy comes through.
"That has been the case with all the young lads who have come on this season and last season. The crowds have taken to them straight away.
"There seems to be an affiliation with the supporter that is lovely to watch."
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