The 43-year-old has largely been overlooked as a potential successor to replace Sam Allardyce, who was sacked on Monday. With Diego Maradona the first name to be linked with the shock Ewood Park vacancy, it was thought Rovers' new owners had set their sights rather higher than Chris Coleman's long-time assistant at Fulham, Coventry and Real Sociedad. But Kean has more going for him than merely being a client of Jerome Anderson, the super agent whose widening influence at Blackburn has been noted across the game. The coaching abilities of the one-time Celtic star came to the attentions of Luis Felipe Scolari during his short time at Chelsea and Allardyce tried to get him to Newcastle before eventually finding a place for him on the Blackburn payroll. But now Allardyce has gone, Kean is ready to make a pitch for the top job. "I have done my apprenticeship," he said. "I have run two academies at Reading and Fulham. I was reserve coach at Reading. I was assistant manager at Coventry, Fulham and Real Sociedad, so I have had a bit of experience abroad. I was first-team coach here. The only job I have not done is manager. "Maybe it is time I take the team and see where it goes." Clearly Kean's hunger runs deep. He openly admits he snubbed an opportunity to replace Coleman as manager of Real Sociedad out of loyalty to his long-time friend. However, whilst Kean admits to being completely shocked when he took a call from Rovers chief executive John Williams half an hour before the axe fell on Allardyce, asking him if he would take temporary charge, he never thought about refusing. "No. I didn't think about not doing it," he said. "I said I would do anything the club wanted me to do." It is an opportunity Kean did not expect. Yet the new Blackburn owners, Indian firm Venky's, are clearly impressed by the Scot. And, starting with an encounter with basement dwellers West Ham at Ewood Park tomorrow, Kean is determined to force his way into their thoughts as Allardyce's permanent replacement. "It is an exciting time for the club," he said. "The owners seem to have very big plans and if I can be part of that, I will be delighted. "Hopefully it will be in a position that suits the bit I am good at, which is being out on the training ground, developing players and building teams. "If that is the manager's job, great." Kean confirmed he has spoken regularly with Allardyce since the decision to dispense with his services was made. Their latest conversation was as recently as this morning, with Kean's former boss offering his unqualified support. "Sam has been very supportive. I have worked with him for the past 18 months and I have also worked really closely with Neil McDonald, who is a fantastic coach. "You have to respect people that brought you to the club. Sam brought me here and showed a lot of confidence in me. "He gave me my job and gave me a lot of say in what goes on at the club. I will always be grateful for that." But such is the nature of football that Kean now has a chance to profit from Allardyce's misfortune. "It is never good when someone in our line of work loses their job," he reflected. "I have had it on both sides. I walked in at Fulham when Jean Tigana lost his job and I had to pick up the reigns. "Then I was sacked and had to walk out and someone else came in. That is the nature of the job."
