BLACKBURN Rovers officials are confident a lasting memorial to the late Jack Walker will be completed in time to be unveiled before the start of the new Premiership season.

Work has now started on a specially commissioned bronze statue of Mr Walker, which is due to be erected in a memorial garden in front of the Blackburn End at Ewood Park.

And chief executive John Williams is hopeful the tribute to the club's biggest-ever fan will be finished in time to coincide with Rovers' return to the big time. We're on course for an unveiling of Jack's memorial, hopefully, in time for the start of the season and, if not, then certainly in the early part of next season," said Mr Williams. "The statue itself is now ready for casting.

"It's a 9ft bronze in a triumphant pose, which I think everyone will like. It's going to be set in a memorial garden and I think it will transform the whole Blackburn End of the ground.

"It's hard to think of anything which might be a fitting tribute to Jack, but this is probably as good as it gets in terms of the nature of the tribute.

"I think it will provide a place where people can keep in touch with Jack on a match day and even come down and have the odd quiet contemplation during the week."

Fans have contributed to the cost of the project through a series of donations and the Jack Walker Memorial Fund will remain open over the course of the summer for anyone wishing to make a further contribution.