I think that those in this topic who have rightly queried Dunn's fitness levels, and to a lesser extent, his professionalism, have maybe overlooked the regime that the manager now emphasises upon the playing staff. Since Dunny's departure, the training regime, the fitness levels of the players, the introduction of pro-zone etc have all contributed to the overall improvement of Rovers' first team squad. If you add to that the rigorous medical that Dunny is likely to undertake I think we should be able to say that, first, Dunny will be in good physical shape when/if he signs and, second, once he's integrated back into the fold and has a few week's training under his belt he will be physically fitter and sharper than he has been for years. I also trust the Rovers medical staff to look after him to prevent those niggly injuries he has been susceptible to. But, of course, he may just do his hamstring again and prove all this immaterial!

Rovers held a testimonial for the late, great Noel Brotherston in the early 90s, after Noel had left the club. A pitifully low crowd saw Rovers lose to Man City. I can also vaguely remember a testimonial for a guy called Fred O'Donoghue(?) who must have been on the Rovers coaching staff. Rovers played a Northern Ireland International XI and I can remember Jimmy Quinn playing for both sides.

At the risk of being berated I am also unable to attend the match on Tuesday - and, like Flopsy, I am absolutely gutted. I was all set, no problems, had the tickets etc and was looking forward to showing my appreciation for all that TP has done for Rovers, as well as one last opportunity to see some Rovers legends in the blue and white shirt. And then what happens ? Work commitments, Tuesday and Wednesday next week, in Newcastle !! How ironic that I have to be in the hometown of, arguably, Rovers' greatest ever striker when he's here paying his own homage to TP. I don't know why I'm telling you all this, maybe I'm looking for repentence. Maybe I will feel a little better having shared my angst with others. Suffice to say that, until you have been in a position where you desperately wanted to be present at something and then you have the possibility taken away from you, you won't comprehend how it feels. If you're going enjoy yourselves and do what you can to ensure that TP remembers the night for all the right reasons. Why oh why couldn't it have been arranged for the weekend?

Err, Frank, as in my mate Frank - When he's had a few he needs a hell of a lot of censoring! (Okay, it's poor but I couldn't resist!)

View on Chelsea This report sums up my feelings on the whole Chelsea situation. While I agree that the introduction of Mourinho to the English game was great there appears to be a growing danger that Abramovich, Mourinho and Chelsea feel they are 'above the law' There are too many instances already of their complete disregard for the laws of the game - Ashley Cole, Barcelona/Frisk, the Carling Cup Final, the Mourinho comments after the Cup semi against United, even the refusal to accept the charges after the game at Ewood - and these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Attempting to fine a club owned by one the world's richest men is laughable. A firm stance should be taken against them before they become completely 'unmanageable' (by the way I haven't inserted a link to an article before so my apologies if this one hasn't worked - the article is on the BBC sport website)

I know it's petty but I was pleased to see from that article that we beat Glasgow Rangers to Ryan's signing (if there was anything in the rumours mentioned!!) Ryan knows where the real football is played !!

This is pretty much the last link to the glory years of the mid-nineties. More than ever now is the time for a clean break, certainly from the latter stages of the Souness era, and no matter how much I am grateful to Tony Parkes for everything he has done for the club I, and he, loves so much, he should still shoulder some of the responsibility for the mess the playing side of the club is in at present. Sadly football clubs are not run successfully on sentiment. As philipl points out Tony's "knowledge and experience of all things Rovers" should be of invaluable benefit to a new manager. Perhaps Sparky feels he's already gleaned all he can. If Sparky feels he can improve the quality of his backroom staff with "young and innovative coaching staff who have lots of new ideas", as Hughesy says, then I'm all for it. If this is all confirmed today, then I thank Tony Parkes from the bottom of my heart. I'm sure there'll always be a seat for him to come back and watch the team whenever he wants to. And if I see him in Tesco then I'll thank him personally!!

I've just voted for Jimmy Forrest because, if it's going to come down to a two-horse race between Forrest and Sherwood I feel that, based on achievements and the meaning of the term 'Great' and/or 'Legend', there's no comparison. I was a fan of Sherwood but, as has been pointed out by others, his contribution to Rovers history will not stand the test of time in the same way as Forrest.

Martin Fowler ? In the same illustrious team as the likes of Brian Morley, John Butcher, Joe Craig and Alan Birchenall. My, how we were spoiled in those days !

A very interesting article indeed. A season ticket for the European Champions at £67 ffs !!!! Another interesting snippet, which would be of particular interest to those looking at ways of increasing our dwindling attendances, is the provision of free public transport to all supporters travelling up to 100km, or 62 miles, to the ground. A great idea - remove that particular additional cost and do away with the matchday traffic congestion problems all in one fell swoop ! which reminds me, does anyone know whatever happened to the rumoured plans to build an Ewood stop on the passing rail line?

Even though I don't get to all games these days, reading through this thread has helped remind me of the glorious trips in the past. I've been very fortunate to attend each of the trips mentioned here, to Bury, Carlisle, Everton and Plymouth. Like MCMC1875 the Bury game was possibly my first or one of my first away games (Andy Crawford scored both in a 2-1 win?) - although I do remember my Dad taking me to Chesterfield a couple of months before that - a 1-0 win in a season filled with 1-0 wins (there you go, a Chelsea link for this Chelsea thread!) and a huge following that packed the open terracing behind the goal that spilled into a side enclosure. Happy, happy days. Incidentally I couldn't dream of paying 40 quid these days for a game of football - responsibilities and all that - but as soon as the missus leaves me and takes the little 'uns............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to think that Djorkaeff would be used to play the killer ball through for the likes of Stead and Bothroyd rather than be used as a striker in his own right. As for the age factor I would also point out that our most reliable defender is 35 years of age and our manager bossed the midfield in the Worthy Cup Final at the age of 37/38 (?) As long as his fitness levels are okay we can't go wrong with a short-term deal for this player. Of course picking up Bolton cast-offs can be used as another example of how far we've fallen in the last couple of years !

Agree with you wholeheartedly there RovertheHill. The over-riding feeling watching last night was that we have completely lost the 'cutting edge'. Even despite all our defensive problems, at least last season it felt as though Rovers would score once or twice per game. Last night, for all the possession, team spirit, battling qualities and other positives raised here, I still felt that, if we scored, it would be more by 'accident rather than design' Five goals in seven games tells its own story. I'll take the Djorkaeff signing if it comes off because, at the moment, we are stripped of any creativity in the team. But (ending on a positive note !) I know that, given time, Hughes will get it right - we won't be in the relegation fight April/May this year !

'New manager' syndrome didn't work for Kenny - or for Souness for that matter but I take your point !! 2-1 to Rovers Stead and Dickov after a Berkovic opener.

This would lead me to believe that, during negotiations, Mr Williams has suggested that there may be funds available for new players. I thought emphasis would probably be on Hughes getting more out of the players he already has. I'd like one of his backroom team to be significantly more experienced to provide him with guidance/advice if required.

I'm pleased. At the time of Souness' departure I hoped that Strachan or Hughes would get the job. During the intervening period, and having seen the names of all the other 'possibles' I'm happy with how things have turned out. My only reservations are, as Kamy100 has just pointed out, he's untested in the transfer market. I don't doubt that he has the big-name pulling power to attract players to the club - but will they be the right players? At Wales this was not an issue. Maybe it won't be much of an issue here if the board are unable to provide him with much funding. For optimism we need look no further than Chris Coleman to see that a manager with limited club management experience can make it work. There are many similarities between Fulham and Rovers, from having a high-profile manager leading them to the Premiership before reaching the end of their shelf life, to the clubs consolidating their places in the Premiership (yes, in our case consolidation may not be the appropriate word at this time!), to suffering a tightening of the purse strings and having to survive on "modest" attendances. If Coleman has managed this and prospered since his appointment, then why can't Sparky given the quality of the squad he now has at his disposal. I'm now looking forward to the weekend for more reason than not being at work!

I accept what you're saying here, and I acknowledge that I'm taking it out of its context a little but I'm sure I've seen a quote on one of these threads this week that states that Rovers' Premiership record under Souness contained more defeats than victories (something like 45 defeats to 40 wins) If you are referring to tangible success ie trophies and European qualification then I accept that point. I know stats can be manipulated to paint whatever picture you want to portray, however losing more games than you win can't be good in anyone's view. The Blackburn "paying public" are deserting in their droves because, over the last 18 months or so, they are being asked to pay more in ticket prices for a poorer standard of football. Simple as that. The hardcore season ticket holders will continue to support year after year but the "casual" supporter, the bandwagon supporter if you like, is going to jump off just as quickly as he/she jumped on circa 1995 because they're not getting any 'entertainment value' I'm looking forward to the new manager a) being a popular choice being tactically proficient c) having a good backroom team around him d) introducing some entertaining football e) being able to cure our defensive frailties it's not too much to ask is it ?!!

You don't think that he's just going to stay completely away the whole week and have no involvement at all ! This is Souness we are talking about ! He desperately needs to start his career there with a win to quieten some of the unrest over his appointment. I think he'll be doing whatever he can to help improve the odds of that happening. I have no doubt that Newcastle, if they didn't know already, will know all the ins and outs on how to beat Rovers by Saturday. Or am I more cynical than I thought I was.

Is this tongue in cheek? Can you imagine the crap from Sam D if this was ever the case - Rovers picking up Dingle cast-offs etc etc

I have nothing but the utmost respect for Tony Parkes and eternal thanks for everything he has done for the club, but I really hope his caretaker role is very short this time. We can't afford for a long-term caretaker as he has done previously. One thing Tony has proved previously is that he's not afraid to overhaul the starting XI - after Harford he re-introduced Billy McKinlay and Graeme Le Saux to positive effect and, after Hodgson's departure I seem to recall he changed half the team for his first game against Ipswich. Should make Saturday's team selection interesting. Maybe not too far-fetched to expect, injury permitting, to see Todd and Gallagher back in the team ?

I already posted my preferred choice on the Souness goes to Newcastle thread, but I'll repeat it here. Strachan is my (realistic) choice - he's passionate about the game and his team, he keeps his tactics fairly simple ie plays players in preferred positions and he also ensured that Southampton was one of the fittest groups of players in the Premiership. He is also comfortable in the spotlight of the media. Hughes is the more likely option - he has managed to get a lot out of a mediocre squad of players, he has a link to the club, would probably fit the wage structure and would receive the respect of the players. The only concern is his inexperience of club management. As has already been posted we cannot afford any time for a new manager to 'find his way' Of all the other realistic names mentioned on this thread they all leave me feeling cold or completely underwhelmed (although I have no idea about Troussier) - except for a Dalglish/Shearer partnership !

My feelings would appear to mirror a lot of others on here this morning. Souness deserves great credit, and much thanks, for creating the 'new' Rovers - from mid-Div 1 to the achievements of the last few years. I'm shocked at the news but, despite being a Souness supporter even through the last 12 months, I'm still not gutted. It has seemed increasingly clear that he has had little idea how to tackle the problems that have surfaced, specifically how to turnaround the team's results. It's also incredibly frustrating, as already mentioned, that Cole left because the two of them couldn't work together. More importantly now are who do we replace him with? Strachan is my choice, although my hunch would be for Mark Hughes, especially after seeing a feature on Wales at the weekend that stated that he has been considering his position after failing to reach Euro 2004 can we stop Souness poaching our best players? I don't think he will take Brad - simply because he inherits Given and Harper. Ferguson and Stead are the most likely departees. In a way it's a sad indictment that I cannot add more names to that list.

I have a copy of that too !! It was imaginitively called "Blackburn Rovers" and the B-side was called "On the Rovers" and was basically an instrumental version of the same song but with the words of the chorus sung. I can vaguely recall the first couple of lines of the song, something like we're all going down to Ewood Park today, 20,000 fans are in their usual place" Slightly exaggerated as this was in the early 80s when average crowds were approximately 5-6,000 ! Maybe "in their usual place" meant at home watching Grandstand. I think it must have been some promotional push by a local band because, if I remember rightly they were handed out free at the turnstiles to youngsters attending a particular match (Norwich ?) No idea if it's collectable or not. But I'm interested to know if it is !!

Does anybody have any further information on this ? That would be bloody typical !

I was so close to agreeing with Blackburn Ender's choice but, to avoid looking like a copycat, I have decided to replace Brotherston with Speedie, because of what he did for us in such a short time. So, Speedie, Garner and Hendry.