Venky's, the Indian poultry firm who completed their takeover of Rovers in November, created shockwaves last week by sacking manager Sam Allardyce despite the team sitting relatively comfortably in 13th place in the Barclays Premier League.

First-team coach Steve Kean has been installed as caretaker boss, with the new hierarchy saying they are prepared to take "a couple of months" to find Allardyce's permanent successor.

Club captain Nelsen, who scored Blackburn's goal on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham in Kean's first game in charge, has been left bemused by the situation.

"They [the new owners] want to do it their way, I've no problem with that," Nelsen told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"Good for them. But we're down in the trenches fighting and the Premier League is not easy. It's as tough as it gets in any sport.

"It would be nice when you're down in the trenches fighting to get a bit of communication - so that's what I'd say to them.

"Listen, I have no problem with any owners doing anything, it's their club.

"But the thing is when you make a monumental decision like that - and it's the biggest decision any club can make - you like to think there's a back-up plan.

"We as players know nothing, the staff know nothing. Nobody knows anything about what's going on."

Nelsen believes the events of the past few days took their toll on the team's performance against the Hammers.

"It really was a strange atmosphere," the New Zealand defender said.

"I think it showed in the game, it wasn't great quality. The tension was in the players and it was in the crowd as well. You can't blame anyone for that.

"The decision that was made has caused this kind of tension. It was portrayed out there.

"I have to be honest and say I've never known anything like this in my career. Managers have come and gone but not like this. This is something new to all of us."

Kean has expressed his interest in taking the job full-time and insists that while he remains at the helm, he will not playing a passive role under the new owners.

"Anybody who knows me knows I wouldn't just roll over and do what people say," Kean said.

"With the years of experience I have, I would hope that I would be respected and be able to shape the things to come."

He continued: "I've not had any detailed chats with the owners. I spoke to the chairperson (Anuradha Desai) and she just passed on her best wishes to the lads.

"Hopefully I will have more conversations and we can put plans in place."