Mumbai's Saurin Shah eyes Blackburn Rovers

In recent months rumours have been doing the rounds that Anil Ambani is planning to takeover Newcastle, while his brother Mukesh and the Sahara group are eyeing Liverpool. On Friday, there were reports of another Indian entrepreneur planning to take over Blackburn Rovers, another English Premier League club.

According to Times Online, Mumbai-based businessman Saurin Shah, has the Lancashire club in his sights because of the town's large Asian population.

After several weeks of talks, the Blackburn board is believed to have allowed Shah to begin the due diligence process. He hopes to complete a £25 million  takeover by mid-July.

"We're serious. We're in negotiations. We've acquired the right of due diligence," Shah, who has shipping and investment business, told Mumbai newspaper DNA.

"We have the right of first refusal," he added.

On Thursday, I-League champions Dempo Sports Club of Goa disclosed that they are close to signing a deal with an unnamed English football club for acquiring technical knowhow as well as ideas on how to market the game and run the entity profitably. That club could well be Dempo, given Shah's interest for Blackburn is because of the large Indian and Asian communities in the area.