BLACKBURN Rovers' co owner Balaji Rao has reiterated that Venky's are "here for the long haul" and has promised big changes at the club.

The Venky's director told the Times of India newspaper that there was no chance of Venky's selling and said they would bounce back from relegation straight away.

Rao declined to comment on manager Steve Kean's future or on the sacking of deputy chief executive Paul Hunt, although his brother and fellow co owner Venkatesh Rao said earlier in the day Hunt had lost his job due to cost cutting.

Rao admitted relegation had hurt the family but, after claiming the club was now debt free, vowed to make an instant Premier League return.

He told the Times of India: "In the last month we have made the club debt-free. We are here for the long haul.

"We have absolutely no intentions of selling the club. Me, my brother Venkatesh and my sister (Anuradha Desai), our entire family, has fallen in love with the club. We cannot sell it.

"We were certainly not expecting to be relegated. It was the saddest bit of news for me since my mother passed away. But we will bounce back within a year.

"There will be lots of changes in the near future. We will bring in changes within the next month.

"We cannot hold back players. Those who want to leave may do so. But let me tell you, 80 per cent of the players want to stay."