Steve Kean says he has been "forced to resign" as manager of Championship side Blackburn Rovers. The Scot, 44, has left Ewood Park with immediate effect because his position had become "untenable", he said in a statement. Blackburn owners Venky's held talks with Kean at the weekendfollowing a 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough. Kean said earlier on Friday that he believed the talks had been "positive and constructive".
Rovers were relegated from the Premier League in May but have made a solid start to the new season, taking 14 points from their first seven matches.
They are currently third in the table behind Brighton and Huddersfield.
Kean had been in charge of the Lancashire club since December 2010 when he replaced the sacked Sam Allardyce.
The statement, which was issued through Kean's lawyers on Friday, said: "For reasons that I cannot discuss on legal advice, 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.
"I wish to thank all the players and coaching staff for their great support and the majority of the fans, who now see their club heading towards an automatic promotion position back to the Premiership. I wish the club all the very best for the future."
A large number of Blackburn supporters have held protests against Kean for much of his 21-month reign, but he had retained the backing of Indian owners Venky's.
There were more calls for his exit from a sizeable majority of the home crowd throughout Friday's loss against Middlesbrough, which was Rovers' first defeat of the Championship season.
A fans' boycott has led to attendances at Ewood Park falling significantly this season, with the 13,405 crowd against Middlesbrough more than 9,000 down on the average crowds they were attracting in the Premier League last season.
Following Kean's appointment, Rovers only avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the 2010-11 season with a 3-2 victory at Wolves.
And he was
unable to save them from the drop last season, ending the club's 11-year stay in the top flight.
He had been given significant financial support by the owners during the summer, allowing him to sign 12 new players, including the
record capture of Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield for a fee which could rise to £8m.
Experienced internationals such as Portugal striker Nuno Gomes and former England midfielder Danny Murphy were also added to the squad, the majority of which had been kept intact despite their relegation to the second tier.
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