IT was billed as an exciting new era but, just 18 months on, heartbroken Blackburn Rovers fans have been left wishing they had never heard of Steve Kean and Venky’s.

Last night’s dire 1-0 defeat to Wigan confirmed their Premier League relegation and, after a season and a half of inept ownership, baffling managerial decisions and woeful signings, no one could argue those at the top of the football club didn’t have it coming.

As Wigan celebrated safety, fury, frustration, hurt and sheer bewilderment were just some of the feelings emanating from a disgusted Ewood Park as they watched their once proud club limp out of the top flight. ‘Venky’s and Kean out’ was the cry.

Some may question their very vocal protestations but what else are they supposed to do after watching their club crumble beyond their eyes? The new regime have been a disgrace.

Rovers’ final exit was fitting of their season. Toothless and farcical as they never showed any signs of starting a great escape. Antolin Alcaraz’s 87th minute winning header was nothing more than Wigan deserved.

You have to ask what Venky’s bought Blackburn Rovers for when the Walker era came to an end? A mixture of keeping faith with the increasingly out of his depth Kean and providing little financial support left a drop into the Championship almost an inevitability.

Blackburn Rovers have always known relegation was a very real fear over the past few years but what is inexcusable to them is the fact their football club has entirely contributed to its downfall.

The likes of John Williams, Tom Finn, Martin Goodman and Andrew Pincher will be devastated by happenings since their exits – you can’t help but feel things could have been different had the old guard still been in place.

Kean has been portrayed away from Blackburn as the innocent victim but the Ewood Park faithful made sure everyone knew how much of a role they believe he has played in their slump. They are spot on as well.

Anyone still trying to argue Kean has done a good job though is ‘having a laugh’. This is his team and his style and we all know it has been a disaster almost since the day he was bizarrely handed the reigns.

After all he is the one who has signed players simply not up to it, he has allowed a number of experienced players to quit Ewood Park and he has failed to get the best out of some very good players still among his ranks.

It is no coincidence that five of last night’s bench were Kean signings, while four more didn’t even make the squad. You wonder what he spent £20million on.

He has always pointed to THAT win at Old Trafford as reason for positivity. What about those home defeats to Wolves, Everton, West Brom, Bolton, Stoke, Newcastle and Wigan then Steve? Surely now his race is run?

The irony of seeing Sam Allardyce’s West Ham take a step nearer a Premier League return would not have been lost on the home supporters.

Knowing it was all or nothing, Kean handed loanee Anthony Modeste just his third start in a three-pronged attack with Junior Hoilett and Yakubu.

Martin Olsson returned at left back in place of his twin brother Marcus, but Steven Nzonzi still had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.

Prior to the match, Yakubu picked up the player of the season gong for his 16 goal season, while Ruben Rochina won goal of the season for his strike at Fulham.

The chants for Venky’s out started as early as the first minute and it didn’t take long before Steve Kean bore the brunt too.

On the field, Wigan started the brighter of the two sides with Victor Moses firing over the bar on three minutes after David Dunn was dispossessed on the edge of the area.

Play was then delayed as stewards had to chase a chicken off the pitch, prompting another anti-Venky’s burst from the frustrated home faithful.

Franco Di Santo saw a low shot saved by Paul Robinson, while at the other end Modeste fired wildy over from 25 yards.

You wouldn’t have known Rovers were playing for survival from the first half and hour as, for the exception of David Dunn, there was little sign of any real passion.

The Latics were keeping the ball at will and should have been ahead on 35 when Moses headed Di Santo’s deep cross across the face of goal from close range.

Rovers’ cause was not helped by Dunn limping off on the stroke of half time, with left winger Marcus Olsson the surprising choice to replace him , despite central midfielders Radosav Petrovic and Nzonzi on the bench. Petrovic was introduced at half time though, in place of Gael Givet The biggest cheer of the evening so far though came on 47 as a fan raced across the pitch from the Darwen End to launch his season ticket at the dug outs.

Rovers at least started to look a little threatening with Yakubu’s volley blocked on the line by Gary Caldwell after Dann’s header across goal.

Junior Hoilett looked as though he should have been awarded a penalty on 59, after being caught from behind by Emmerson Boyce, while Modeste hit straight at Al Habsi on 70.

Robinson bravely denied Moses and McCarthy as Wigan broke before Shaun Maloney headed over from yards out as Rovers’ brief fire started to go out.

Rovers’ fate was sealed in the dying minutes as Alcaraz rose to head home Jean Beausejour’s corner.

Last night does not have to be Ewood Park’s final Premier League farewell. The club returned within two years the last time it suffered the drop and we all want to see the same again.

We have seen enough this season from the likes of Grant Hanley, Jason Lowe and Adam Henley to suggest the youth is in place to help bring about a bright future but potential alone will not salvage the mess it is in.

Rovers need owners who are ready to invest for the future and who will treat their own fans with respect and a manager who has the experience to inspire a top flight return. At the moment, there are few signs Rovers have either.