Suitable 'parents' are being sought

ROVERS Academy staff are calling on East Lancashire families to act as 'supportive parents' in a bid to boost their quest of finding the club's stars of the future.

Bobby Downes and his backroom staff have already produced a stream of young talent to supplement the first team squad since the Academy first opened its doors.

But now they are planning to spread their net even wider in an all-out offensive to unearth the country's most promising youngsters.

For that to happen, however, they need your help.

At present, Rovers' scouting network is focused on combing the North West for the hottest 13 to 16-year-olds in the area.

But, as they attempt to keep pace with the likes of Manchester United, now they are aiming to take that recruitment drive even further afield and they are looking for suitable homes in which to put-up potential new 'signings.'

So if you are an energetic, caring, tolerant, married couple who would enjoy the company of football-loving teenagers then Rovers need you.

"At present we have lots of good young players from our locality and it's important to stress we work hard with them," said Steve Nickson, head of Welfare and Education at the Academy.

"So we want to continue that because we believe that's very much a strength of ours.

"But it would also be an additional advantage to be able to get players in from outside the locality to work alongside what we've already got.

"And, obviously, having a stable home for them within the locality is a priority for the boys as well as their parents.

"In return for housing and supporting the youngsters we would offer generous maintenance payments and excellent levels of support.

"It does carry a lot of responsibility but it can be very fulfilling and rewarding for those involved.

"These are exciting times for the Academy and as far as the club is concerned this is the way forward.

"If we are to develop our own stars then we need to put these schemes into place sooner rather than later."

Nickson's role in the scheme, meanwhile, is just one of the responsibilities which come under the umbrella of being the Academy's Welfare and Education officer.

All Rovers' senior Academy players currently attend college in order to supplement their work on the training ground.

And it's Nickson's responsibility to ensure his Brockhall babes are suitably accommodated. "I co-ordinate the education side of things . Our boys go to Preston College and we make sure that all our lads are put on a course to suit their individual needs," said Nickson.

"Nowadays in football, it's very, very important to have an education as well as looking after the playing side of things.

"If, for example, they were to have a bad injury of any sort then they've got something to fall back on in an educational sense.

"We also work on what I would call 'life skills' like dealing with the media, how to handle the public and the whole image of being a professional footballer.

"So my job is to look after everything off the pitch while the coaches look after everything on it.

"That way we feel they leave here as more rounded individuals."

Anyone interested in becoming 'support parents' are asked to contact Dawn Dunn at the Academy on 01254 244003 for an application form.

Marc makes move to Latics

ROVERS' reserve team striker Marc Richards has joined Oldham Athletic on a month's loan.

Latics boss Andy Ritchie made his move for the young forward yesterday after a raft of injuries have depleted his promotion-chasing squad.

It's the second time the former Academy starlet has gone out on loan this season after previously spending a month with Crewe Alexandra where he made a handful of appearances for the First Division club.

As a consquence, his appearances for the reserves have been fleeting although he did come on as a second half sub in the recent 5-0 drubbing of Aston Villa.

His move to Oldham follows the club's decision to extend Simon Grayson's loan period at Notts County by another month.

The former Aston Villa defender was poised to join the Magpies permanently earlier this week but the subsequent departure of manager Jocky Scott has now thrown that into fresh doubt.

Meanwhile, Alan Murray's second string are next in action on Tuesday, October 23, against Everton at the Autoquest Stadium.

Fans eager to grasp thorny problem

ROVERS Fans Forum met this week and tackled the thorny topic of ticket allocations to away fans at Ewood Park.

In particular, they considered how the club should approach allocation to away fans for the forthcoming Liverpool fixture.

In terms of success, safety and even results on the pitch in games against Burnley, Preston North End and Manchester United, where the way fans got the whole of the Darwen End, the club -- and the police -- are leaning towards a similar arrangement for Liverpool's visit.

The Fans' Forum was split on this matter, with some ardently wishing to retain a Rovers presence at the Darwen End for such fixtures.

But what's the view of the wider Rovers fan-base? The Forum would love to hear from fans on this issue.

Another bone of contention is the £1 booking fee required by the club on every ticket bought over the phone.

Why does it have to be on every ticket, not just on one transaction?

The Forum had very strong feelings on this and a message was sent to the Board.

What do fans think on these and any other Rovers' issues?

Write to the Fans Forum, Ewood Park, Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 4JF.