SO Robbie Fowler's coming to Ewood according to the national Press?

A tantalising thought perhaps but one that is sadly totally unrealistic as Graeme Souness quite rightly illustrated when put on the spot in a Press conference yesterday.

When -- rather than if -- he finally leaves Liverpool, expect to see a transfer scramble on a par with the Sol Campbell saga which bored us all to tears over the summer.

But, despite all the money swishing around the Premiership at present, it's a sign of the times that only four English clubs have the financial muscle necessary to join an auction for his services.

Fowler currently can't get a game for love nor money at Anfield yet that won't stop Liverpool asking for £17 million for a player who has lost his way over the last 12 months.

And when the England striker himself comes to sitting around the negotiating table, he's likely to demand at least £50,000 a week in wages.

When you add that all up, you won't get much change out of £30 million to sign him on a five year deal which effectively puts him out of reach of everyone bar Manchester United, Leeds, Arsenal and Chelsea.

So when Souness said he could not afford him, he wasn't pleading poverty. It was simply a frank admission of what we have known for a while -- the British transfer system has spiralled so far out of control that even a club like Rovers are struggling to compete.

If that's the case then, just where does Souness turn next?

Well, for me, he has two options.

Either he goes down the road of Derby boss Jim Smith in trying to sign people like Fabrizio Ravanelli who have been top players in their time but are now coming towards the end of their careers.

Or he takes a punt on potential, scouring the lower leagues and Europe for people who may not be tried and tested at the highest level but have shown signs of being able to make the step up.

Souness clearly feels the second option is the more sensible route, despite the obvious dangers, hence his recruitment of players like Ciccio Grabbi and Lucas Neill.

And if that policy is to prove successful, then it's vital the fans play their part.

There are those who've already written Grabbi off simply because the Italian has failed to score in his opening five games.

But it's going to take time for him to adjust to the pace of English football, not to mention moving to a new country, getting used to a new culture and trying to learn a new language.

With that in mind, it's the responsibility of everyone with the club's best interests at heart to try and make him feel welcome.

The vast majority of Rovers fans have been excellent in that respect so far and with 20,000 people willing him on, it won't be long before he starts terrorising Premiership defences.

Then who needs Robbie Fowler?