Steve Kean resigns as Blackburn manager

Steve Kean has resigned as Blackburn manager, saying he had been ''forced'' out and that his position had become ''untenable.''

Kean faced constant calls for his resignation from fans last season when the club was relegated from the Premier League, but had retained the public backing of the club's owners, Indian poultry firm Venky's.

Blackburn is third in the League Championship after a good start, but Kean issued a statement Friday saying that ''it is with deep regret, given my hard work and service for the club for a number of years, that I have been forced to resign as manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect, due to my position as team manager becoming untenable.''

The club did not immediately announce a replacement.