LIKE a lot of fans of both Rovers and Burnley, I get fed up of the arguments about who has the biggest average gate, but I cannot let F Higginbotham's comments (Sports Letters, December 19) about Burnley's go unchallenged. His figures need to be put in both context and in recent history.

Rovers average gate of 18,527 which he cites, is on the back of seven seasons in the Premiership (during which time the gates doubled) and after a first season in Division One, with promises of no admission price rises the following year and this season's promise of a refund if they are not successful.

In case it has escaped Mr Higginbotham's mind, from the day Rovers were promoted into the Premiership, their gates steadily increased from 16,247 in the first year going on to reach a high of 27,714 in the 1995-96 season.

I would like to however, revisit the average gate at Rovers prior to the Premiership. During this time, Rovers were in the play-off zone for consecutive seasons and in those last two years before promotion averaged 8,100 and 13,290 respectively.

It is these gates he should compare against Burnley's 15,683, a figure which by the way, he states when we still have half the season to go where we may not even reach the play-offs.

And was it a misprint when he said "almost 5,000" more than Burnley?

He will find that if he subtracts 15,683 from 18,527, it comes to 2,844 -- far short of the 5,000 he states and, as I said, with half a season still to go and not even bringing respective populations into it.

His comments about our away following are certainly not based on any research, as we have consistently taken large away followings when in the lower divisions which, I can vouch, entailed going to some very uncomfortable and unglamorous grounds.

In fact, these were the years that actually galvanised our strong away support, which has resulted in many a compliment from both glamorous and unglamorous opposition fans in the past and still to date.

Everyone knows it is a gradual progression, both increasing gates as well as decreasing gates. Rovers are still in a "honeymoon period" where expectations of regaining Premiership status are very high.

I just wonder if Mr Higginbotham will still be backing Rovers should they stay out of the Premiership for any length of time, just as I wonder if he was backing Rovers prior to the Premiership in the old Second Division.

GARY DONNELLY.