Blackburn Rovers: Henning Berg calls for unity from fans

Henning Berg hopes his appointment as manager of Blackburn Rovers will help reunite the club with their supporters.

Former boss Steve Kean was subject to a number of protests during his 21 months in charge, while home attendances are significantly down on last season.

"I hope they will support the team and the club. I know there have been difficult times," said Berg, who won the Premier League with Rovers in 1995.

"I hope they [the fans] see the club is moving in the right direction."

The former Lyn and Lillestrom boss continued: "I know how fantastic Blackburn fans can be and the lift they can give the players.

"I have experienced this, it will be nice for players to feel that and I am sure they will. These fans are loyal and they are passionate."

Supporters voiced their disapproval towards Kean and owners Venky's as Blackburn were relegated from the top flight earlier this year.

Crowds at Ewood Park this season have dropped to an average of under 14,000 - around 8,500 fewer than their average home gate during the 2011-12 season.

The Championship club to find a successor to Kean, who resigned on 28 September.

Approaches to speak to former Rovers players and Billy McKinlay were rejected by Tottenham and Fulham respectively.

But Blackburn global advisor Shebby Singh is confident the club have "found the right man" in Berg, a 43-year-old Norwegian who played 297 games in two spells with Rovers and won two major trophies.

"We went through quite an exhaustive criteria list," said Singh.

"We deliberated on different groups of candidates and I think finally we have come to a conclusion where we have got the experience.

"Henning has nearly seven years of [managerial] experience and his stature as a player, not only with Blackburn, but with Manchester United.

"When you work with great managers, there is a lot you take away from that. We arrived at a point where we said: 'We have found the right man'."

Berg takes charge with Blackburn fifth in the Championship and his first match at the helm is at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

"We want to win promotion," said Berg, who has signed a three-year contract at Ewood Park. "That is our goal. That is our only ambition.

"If it is straight up or via the play-offs, it doesn't matter. That is the only thing we want to do.

"The most important thing is for us to go up and get back into the Premier League.

"We are not going to win the Premier League but the main thing is for us to go up. We have a good chance, we have a good squad and there are still things to improve in our play.

"When we go up, we will have a look at things."