BLACKBURN Rovers owners Venky’s have released a statement on the club’s official website expressing they ‘remain totally committed to supporting all areas of the football club’.

The statement was first read out tonight at the first of two supporters’ consultation meetings to be held at Ewood Park this season.

It reads: “We trust that tonight’s meeting will be mutually beneficial for everyone involved, and hope that the supporters in attendance take full advantage of the opportunity to engage directly with the manager, Owen Coyle, and the board in a productive and positive environment.

“We feel that it is important to remind supporters that we are extremely proud to be the owners of a football club with such a rich history and heritage.‎ Blackburn Rovers is in our hearts and we share your ambition to see the club back where it truly belongs.

“As stated before, we remain totally committed to supporting all areas of the football club.  

“We backed the manager during the summer transfer window, bringing 13 new players into the football club, and we believe now that we have a balanced squad which is capable of being very competitive in this division, as recent results and performance of the team have shown.

“We thank you for your loyal support and we look forward with optimism to the remainder of the 2016-17 season.”

Rovers boss Coyle was joined at the meeting by directors Mike Cheston and Robert Coar, club secretary Ian Silvester, and the club’s legal advisor Daniel Milnes, of Forbes Solicitors.

Cheston delivered a presentation before the panel took questions from the fans’ groups and local dignitaries invited to attend.

Cheston confirmed that Venky’s representative, Suhail Pasha, is now an employee of the club.

Earlier this summer Rovers revealed they were looking to ‘make a key appointment to the management team at Ewood Park’ who will act as the ‘key link’ between the club and its India-based owners.

The Lancashire Telegraph attended tonight’s meeting and a full report will appear on this website at 6pm tomorrow and in Saturday’s newspaper.