BRIAN Kidd was left stunned by the latest bout of speculation linking him with a return to Old Trafford as head of Manchester United's youth development.

The former Blackburn Rovers boss has been reported as being on the point of joining Liverpool, Wales and now United - with a Sunday newspaper claiming Alex Ferguson is ready to welcome back the man he slagged off in his controversial autobiography.

But the fact is that Kidd cannot make a return to the game until he has settled his sacking terms with Rovers, and that deal still remains unsigned nearly four months after he left Ewood.

Kidd refused to comment on the latest bout of speculation today and was clearly surprised by it.

But people who know Ferguson well said it was just the kind of stroke he might try to pull.

Even though he hurt Kidd deeply with his comments, he knows his value working with young players.

Whether Kidd could forgive or forget so easily is another matter.

He is hoping to get back into the game soon, in some capacity, and he expects to seal terms with Rovers soon.

"My solicitor has been away for the past week and there is just the legal side of it to be sorted out," he said.

"I don't think there will be any problems. They are honourable people at Blackburn."

Ewood chief executive John Williams said: "As far as I am concerned everything has been agreed by both parties and it just remains to be signed at Brian's end."

Meanwhile, Keith Gillespie, now getting back in the groove and injury free, warned the rest of the First Division that they would not succeed in trying to 'bully' Rovers. "I thought we showed a lot of character. We have a lot of Premiership players and you have to dig in at places like Stockport," he said.

"We did that and I think that teams who play us now will know we are no pushovers.

"People think they can bully us out of it.

"But, when you have players like Garry Flitcroft in the middle of midfield who work hard and give their all, that typifies the spirit at the club.

"We have found it hard to adapt but we are slowly coming to terms with it and we know that every game is going to be a battle.

"For a lot of clubs, it's like a cup final playing us after being relegated.

"But we just have to dig in and hope results will follow.

"The play-offs are definitely within our sights."

Manager Tony Parkes was delighted with a win to end a depressing run but acknowledged that Rovers were still adapting to life in the First Division, even at this stage of the season. There are a lot of players in our dressing room who will not have enjoyed the game apart from the result," he said.

"But I think that when they sit down and think about it the result is most important and there are certain ways you have to play to get results - certainly in this league. "The Premiership is a bit more gentle. Basically, everybody wants to play football and our players enjoy that."

"But (in this division) you have to battle away and that's what we did.

"It was vital we got a win, it sets it going again, especially with two home games to come."

Parkes admitted he thought he was going to have to settle for a point at Edgeley Park.

"I thought it was going to be a goalless draw. I don't think our keeper had to make too many saves, if he had one to make at all.

"But we have to get used to playing in this division.

"When you go to places like Stockport you have to scrap and fight and you have to compete.

"It's usually a long ball game and we have to get used to that. It's not pretty to watch."

Despite having goalkeeper Michael Bingham sent off for a 'professional foul' in the first minute, the Academy under-19 team turned in a superb display to hold Aston Villa away 0-0. Matt Hind went on as sub keeper and saved the resulting penalty, then Rovers' 10 men defied Villa and might even have snatched a shock win on the break.

Rovers are four points clear at the top of the under-19 table with two games left.

No joy for the under-17s, who were also away to Villa. They were hammered 5-1, Liam Blakeman scoring a late consolation.

Colin Hendry is set to have talks with Coventry City tomorrow about moving to the Premiership club from Rangers.

The central defender was keen to return to Ewood but there has not been any move by Rovers.

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