I'm assuming he's reffed more than 4 or 5 matches for us? Correct American Rovers 1 Sheff Utd 0 19/12/1992 Newcastle 1 Rovers 0 08/11/1995 Wimbledon 0 Rovers 1 04/10/1997 Leeds Utd 1 Rovers 0 24/08/1998 Rovers 1 Arsenal 2 25/10/1998 Rovers 2 Villa 1 26/12/1998 Derby 1 Rovers 0 16/01/1999 Newcastle 0 Rovers 0 14/02/1999 Rovers 0 Newcastle 1 24/02/1999 Rovers 2 Arsenal 3 30/01/2002 Birmingham 0 Rovers 1 24/08/2002 Leicester 2 Rovers 0 02/11/2003 Rovers 0 Villa 2 20/12/2003 Rovers 2 Chelsea 3 01/02/2004 Rovers 1 Birmingham 1 15/05/2004 And even more interestingly - I can't count either!!

I really do hope your joking Brownie

Interesting to note we have only won 3 times when Dermot has reffed. Can't see past a draw - 1 v1 -Shearer for them without doubt & Stead to notch his first

I think you just answered your own question there Capt. When we hired Kidd a lot of people were willing to look past his lack of managerial experience based on his reputation as a coach (and if we're honest, in part because we'd nicked him from United). Given that he was an unmitigated disaster as a manager, it is unsuprising that some Rovers fans are "once bitten, twice shy" about hiring another (relatively) inexperienced man to take the helm. Personally I think that the likes of Hughes or Dowie would be a great appointment. Neither are the managerial ingenues that some on here have made them out to be, and despite the fact that Hughes has only managed at international level, the noises coming from the dressing room indicate the high regard in which he is held by those in the domestic game. The new manager's ability to command the respect of the whole dressing room from day one will be critical. This ought to rule out Advocaat given his history with Toogs and Amo (why swap one unhappy set of players with another?) and should strengthen Hughes' claim on the job, given that he is clearly the fans and players choice for the position. Morph Possibly have , but what I was trying to get across is that we need to install a manager+ sidekicks and not a coach and not a Shearer combination etc, which for me the usual suspect names are the ones that stand out. As I have said previously it depends on how the club is considering its immediate position and its aims for the future and a fresh approach is what I feel the club needs - whoever it is one thing is certain - there will always be some that are not happy (inc myself) but we have to put our support behind whoever is given the hotseat , initially anyway. Its certainly exciting times now down at Ewood and I feel confident the club will install whoever is right for Blackburn Rovers which will please the majority of fans and it will not be some of the deadwoods currently being bandied about. BLACKBURN ROVERS - An experience that no fairground or Blackpool Pleasure Beach could ever discover - an undulating ride to prosperity and dreams with emotions to encompass everyones nightmares.

I still find it quite comical that people still dis managers as not being experienced enough to take over the reins especially Hughes. Whoever we get will be not be experienced enough in managing Blackburn Rovers so to me in respect they are all starting on equal grounding. Most have there positives and negatives but I feel as many others that we need somebody to come in with a fresh and ambitious but realistic outlook as to how they see Rovers going. Generally the all round 'ambience' at Ewood has gone a bit stale and we need somebody to help gee up the whole feeling of the place. We have gone down the road of installing supposedly experienced track record managers and those coaches with 'good grounding' previously eg Messrs Hodgson /Kidd and had our fingers burnt severely so maybe now is the time to get one of the up and coming managers as seen by many to install a of bit of ingenuity and optimism back into the club. Seems weird to me that people dis the likes of Dowie/Hughes/Megson etc because they lack experience yet they are all managers already, however I can't remember many in uproar when Kidd was appointed, and he wasn't even a manager.

Is nobody else worried by the comments of Short in the LET- does this mean they will spit their dummies out if they don't get Hughes? Maybe it is now a players game as Souness hinted at, but personally I feel the players should be banned from commenting before the appointment of a new boss.

Ok ok you got me Tris -I suppose my Grandma is not that good (or should that be grammar)

Agree PhilipL and what you have put here top and tails it for me. All these names are being bandied about but alot of rumours and guesstimates are just that - and not being based on how in all reality Rovers are going to have to make their decision. I personally feel that the availability of Hughes has been approached, maybe not directly but through the Welsh FA. Interesting to note, that the two people who I feel most Rovers fans would want (Hughes and Strachan) have 'apparently not yet' applied. As I have said previously as many others on here , we need somebody who can come him and showjump as well as run with the players we have at the moment. No point in appointing a 'succesful European coach etc' as we are not going to be playing in Europe. We have to look at the position we are in at the moment and take stock of our ' present standing' in the Premier League and what we need to compete with - once this is established we can then build for the future.

Gallagher has issues which he needs to address if he's going to fulfill his potential and it's clear Souness pointed this out - wrongly or rightly there was even a very muted warning in public. Maybe that's a falling out, it isn't in my book. "Reliable sources" may well have wanted to make sure it was portrayed as yet another "falling out" for obvious reasons. What was annoying - less so now Souness has gone - is that anything like this was portrayed as Souness' fault. It's a long list of culprits - Dunn, Cole, Yorke, Todd, Flitcroft, etc etc, and every single one of them was guilty of failing the club. How some people on here can want to see Todd back in the shirt is beyond me. He refused to wear it FFS! I don't care who the manager is or what the circumstances were, he let the club and the fans down and should never wear the shirt again. Anyway, what's in the past is there to stay now, whoever comes in will make their own judgements and everyone will start with a clean slate. Back to Gally, I'm sure he'll get his chance like everyone else, and hopefully as he gets a bit older there will be a bit more common sense off the pitch as well. Agree with everything you say Tris - but coming back to this maybe the incident with Todd was also 'misrepresented for obvious reasons' however, if all is true Todd should not be allowed to wear the shirt again. Coming back to Gally, as Philipl says the injury was kept very hush hush and I think this is what gets 'comments and instances' arising as everybody can see Gally has talent and given the chances he has had, has certainly showed he has got the makings of it which is what people want to see. I stated before the season start that personally I felt this would be a big season for him if Souness gave him the chance - now it looks like it might be up to the new boss whoever that maybe.

Andy C That is my worry and a risk Blackburn cannot afford to do. We need someone to come in that can showjump never mind just ride and can take over the reigns and get them nags going from the off.

SmithCpc If he does come will you let him bring Routledge and Johnson with him?

I'd heard from a reliable source that before Souness's departure he had also managed to fall out with Gallagher. Gally's crime? The heinous crime of stating that he wanted to start more games this season. All allegedly of course. Tris I also heard from a reliable source as well Possibly you could be wrong on this - but then again its as Rev says 'allegedly'.

Ricky I was thinking the same last night I think it depends on how you iinterpret what is being said - especially from JW and TP - JW has said if they are already in a job that they will have to consider the compensation/contarct etc - TP has come out saying the person who will be appointed his high profile but not in a job at the moment mmmm.... I also have the feeling the name could be one out of the blue that has only been mentioned briefly or not at all. Just a couple more to throw in the ring which one I think Jan only touched on - more in jest really - and that is Terry Butcher. The other a combination - Dennis Wise and Ray Wilkins - Wise has been slating the board at Millwall and hasn't done too bad a job - wouldn't want it myself - but as I said above - it will probably come out of the blue and be a big surprise. But then again its only speculation

They have these things over here called FAX machines you can send things like job applications in seconds. I'm surprised they have not caught on over there yet. Ha HA USA Blue don't know how long since you visited these shore but we are still using pigeons don't you think JW would have been otherwise occupied dealing with the resignation than new applications? seemed a bit quick for them to have had that many applications especially as it had only just been confirmed that Souness had resigned. Now who said anything about Roswell

Now then that's a bit unfair! On the basis that Emerton was a cracking player at his previous club and he's also looked good for the Aussie team, maybe, just maybe SOuness wasn't getting the best out of him. Emerton is one of the players who's progress I'm looking forward to under the new boss......... We'll see

Thanks Tris. It maybe you just telling me what I wanted to hear, but I am still glad I've heard it. Reading this page, I was quite dejected at the number of supporters so against someone who was great for the club. I kept telling myself, 'surely this isn't indicative of the wider support base', and at least you cast the first contrary argument to all those that thought Souness had passed his expiry date. Shaddy I wouldn't be too sure about this. Tris as much as I respect your comments I feel this may be a bit understated - but then again it could be down to whoever you speak to, but the feeling was that the solidity had started to melt and even though reluctant, there where many resigned to the fact that Souness 's days where numbered. Back to the preferred managers though - I find it quite bewildering and comical with regard to the comments made on here and the names being put forward and arguments re experience and then dis others more experinced. Some people seem to think we are a top performing club that will be playing in Europe come next season. Come on folks lets be realistic - we have apparently no money to spend and are languishing at the bottom of the P/L with the look that we are going to be struggling yet again for another season. Why the hell then would …. Curbishley want to come – already at an established club of similar size and standing to Rovers where he has money to spend and looks a lot more stable than us at the moment. O’Leary – Villa seem to be doing ok with aspirations and looks of getting into Europe– why drop to a club considered ‘smaller’ ? Worthington/Megson– What’s the point going from a possible relegation fight to another with players you don’t know – again another club of arguably similar size (maybe not standing) - experience? Dowie – Only one of possibility that would come (family still in the area?) – but yet as above and still has a lot to prove. Moyes – Might consider it but again would probably want a ‘ bigger’ club unless the situation at Everton is really that bad. Now for Hughes – how can people say he hasn’t got experience – has played at this level – Manager at International Level with Premiership and lower level players and also does a good job from the resources he has to work with. Houlier – Initialy I thought whoah!! no way Johnny boy but then when I reflected upon it I thought –possibly has credentials but would he actually be what we need – would we be too boring? Hoddle – ABSOLUTE NO – Admired as a player but that’s about it – previous comments and actions go against him. Professor Yaffle – You’re having a joke aren’t ya?– some people have short memories – and why would he come to us anyway? – on a cushy number creaming it from the know F.A to even stop and think about it. Without doubt the best credentials at the moment stem from Strachan but whoever we appoint is going to be risky. According to JW , the person they will appoint will be ideally an up and coming manager with experience – doesn’t exactly leave the gate open. Personally, I think we need somebody who can get the best out of what we have as we not exactly going to be able to attract ‘star’ names so an up and coming manager maybe from the lower leagues is our only chance – somebody who can pick up bargains without the over ego’ wage demands. Dario Gradi is the best I have heard on here but here’s my two penneth for somebody who has not been mentioned…. Stand up Mr Peter Taylor. Just out off interest - did nobody else pick up on the comment from JW yesterday re the applications - it came across that it would appear they already had them before Souness's resignation - very strange don't you think?

Well Rikko All I can say as many others have , is don't expect the revolution of Newcastle with this appointment. GS did ok for us but over the last season or so he has shown is tactical naivety big time - so get ready for the keystop cop defence show (shame you don't still have Dabizas) Some of us where already questioning his decisions last season and your worries will probably be confirmed, although I think initially he might steady your boat don't expect miracles - as you may have lost a manager who had lost his marbles but you have gained another who is on his way to losing them. Although it is sad to see Souness go as he did bring a measure of success to our 'little England' club but his boat had come in, and to top it all we are going to get some cash for it. Roll on the rest of season it should be interesting seeing Shearer in the sticks and Given on the wing. Just one thing Mr Souness before you go - please please please please take Emmerton with you

Agreed JAL and thats the annoying thing about it - dragging it along is not going to benefit anyone, especially if we end up him leaving on a free anyway without playing another first team game. If there are doubts about his credentials to play at Premier level, then either somebody needs to convince MJ that is days as a P/L player are long gone or a deal needs to be struck up to provide him the opportunity to prove himself at the likes of a possible first division team like Preston - be it on loan (poss part pay wages) or with an option for us to buy back should he prove his worth. As BobF says - a run of games is possibly not a risk teams can afford (especially us) in the P/L.

For one Bobf mi old mucka - we would stop having these discussions over and over again. It's not me that's saying he is ok - its the club and Souness and this is turn is painting a picture that is building the hopes of Rovers fans when in all reality its all bull doo da. Don' t you think if there is any future for him other clubs would have had him watched anyway regardless of what the club says and made up their own minds? Reading the comments of MJ it would suggest he is ready and is working hard - but the comments of Souness seem to change every week totally contradicting what he has said previous. Forget me if I'm wrong, but for the majority of Rovers fans there is no love lost at the moment with Souness and by spouting what appears to be'lies' or misleading 'comments' is not going to endear him back to the walkaways. We keep on getting told about our position of needing fans through the turnstiles - so how about making the fans feel part of the club and stop all the bollux of trying to cover up stuff. I don't like it anymore than the next Rovers fan, and feel the paying customer has a right to know especially nowadays how their investment to the club is being spent - maybe not the full ins and outs but a better understanding of situations rather than trying to disguise facts all the time. Maybe its me and my interpretation of things, but talking to fellow fans and the comments on here - its not just me. There, my soapbox has just broke (FBstd) - thanks for the beer anyway (or should that be thanking Welshy)

Thenodrog I take it you don't read what Souness has been saying - he is mentally and physically ready all he needs is confidence. So I damned sure that he is not - and Souness is pouting crap again. As you and many of us believe - he's gone - so why don't the club admit it

Jal Is there any? Think Matt has done this quite well himself How can we interpret the difference when there is contradiction from every angle coming from the club? As what has been said previously, the way Souness and the team has been performing how can anybody say he has been given a proper chance - and as we all know you don't get a proper reflection from reserve games and training ( perfect scenario being the Yorke debacle) - by all accounts (Souness words) he has been working hard.

Hang On Capt, Wasn't Richard Brown a left back? And if nothing else I recall his scoring one absolute screamer against someone or other. He was still rubbish though. Nope he was a right back - can't remember him ever scoring though. Your not getting him mixed up with Tony Finnigan are you and his blaster against the Dingles?

Don't seem to recall anybody making him a scapegoat Roversmum. Think you have put another slant on it here - but regardless of the contract the club or Souness are not exactly making it clear to Jansen when on one hand theyare saying one thing and on another something else - your link to report would seem to confirm this and Mattys comments. What the fans are trying to do is find out if JANSEN has a future with us - if not then what is the point of keeping hold of him because all the signs emanating from the club is that they don't see a future for him. J may have all ' The qualities to be a Premier Hit' but does MJ still have them?

Personally I don't think we can answer this question at the moment as we are in another about change situation with new players. And with the possibility of Souness MAYBE now realising our strength is surprisingly playing players in their normal positions in a 442 formation perhaps we should now probably ask the question after the next run of 5/6 games. So for me I am going to be humpty dumpty and sit on the concrete fence (wall)

Nooooo Colin - you can't vote for Richard Brown!!!