AFTER weeks of speculation, rumour and secrecy, the footballing world can start focusing on ‘the beautiful game’ again with Premier League survival now solely down to what happens on the pitch.

With the dreaded January transfer window now firmly shut, the cards have been dealt and the battle for real commences. It is down to the players and manager now, with the chance to play any aces now long gone.

The question remains did Venky’s live up to expectations with their contribution to Blackburn Rovers’ relegation scrap last month? They probably did as I’m not sure any of us realistically expected them to deliver what Steve Kean was hoping for.

The Rovers boss has to put a brave face on the club’s transfer activity but, having stated ‘we need four to five signings who can hit the ground running’, deep down even he must be frustrated by another disappointing window.

Yes, three players were signed but it is hard to see two of those, Marcus Olsson and Anthony Modeste, being much more than squad players or drastically improving Rovers’ survival hopes.

Surely we have enough of those already having seen the likes of Simon Vukcevic, Bruno Ribeiro, Jordan Slew, Ruben Rochina, Mauro Formica, David Goodwillie and Radosav Petrovic spend so much time on the substitutes bench since arriving under Venky’s regime.

This window we were all crying out for the arrival of two or three players who could make an immediate impact and improve the team. No one could argue we have got that.

To be fair Rovers’ squad is probably marginally stronger now than it was before the window opened. After all, they finally have a recognised right back who is allowed to play in Bradley Orr – the Michel Salgado issue is best left alone for another day.

Orr can come straight into the team, allowing Jason Lowe to push into his natural midfield role, and at least has some Premier League experience under his belt, albeit brief.

While Kean has added yet more inexperience to his squad, he has seen some real Premier League know-how depart Ewood Park. Jason Roberts, Keith Andrews and Ryan Nelsen all know what a relegation scrap is about and you can’t help but feel they would have been good guys to have around.

It is important to point out this is not the first disappointing transfer window Rovers fans have suffered over the past few years. The last one under the Walker Trust’s control, Benjani was the sole signing on a free transfer.

The difference here is we knew what to expect back then, there were no ideas of grandeur and we knew staying in the top flight each season was a success.

This is different. Venky’s told us they had the financial clout to be pushing for Europe once again and that Kean would have a significant transfer kitty at his disposal. Hasn’t quite gone to plan has it?

Will Rovers stay in the Premier League this season? Yes I think they will. There have been signs that Steve Kean and his men have enough to just about survive.

Most of their rivals have not strengthened much either this window and I am adamant there are three worse teams than Rovers in the Premier League.

If they do pull off the great escape though, it will be despite Venky’s rather than because of them. Rovers have needed Venky’s help for a long time now and you get the feeling they are resigned to getting on with it without them.

What happens next season? Chris Samba and Junior Hoilett will be gone and that leaves Venky’s needing to deliver for the first time in a transfer window.

Perhaps now is the time for Rovers’ owners, and Steve Kean, to admit their initial lofty ambitions were naive. Admit they aren’t going to attract the top players and be challenging for silverware and they still have half a chance.

Raising expectations has done Venky’s no favours whatsoever and it seems incredible their party line is still being voiced in some quarters.

Survival gives Venky’s another chance. If they want to balance the books, run the club shrewdly and not invest their own money into it, then fair enough. But tell us how it is and no one will have a problem.