Defender tips Souness

But Barnsley boss Dave Bassett remains the Ewood board's number one choice to succeed Brian Kidd.

And Bassett, who was locked in a meeting at Oakwell this morning, was today refusing to comment further on the Rovers situation.

Rovers defender Harkness, however, believes the club should turn to his old boss Souness because he has all the right credentials to lead Rovers back into the big-time.

"I think that if the club got Graeme Souness in then that would be a good appointment," said Harkness.

"I know the way Graeme works and all about his attitude.

"He's been a winner as a player and a winner as a manager.

"I think we definitely need somebody in who can sort us out, tells us what we need to do and get us where we want to be.

"And I think Graeme is the man who could kickstart this club, personally."

Harkness, who was a player under Souness at both Liverpool and Benfica, played a starring role as Rovers ended a run of nine games without a win with a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday.

But despite the up turn in fortunes under caretaker boss Tony Parkes, the former Anfield ace believes the board need to get a new manager in as soon as possible.

"To be honest, the lads have been asking why it's taking a while to get something sorted because we need to hear what's going on," said Harkness. "We won on Saturday but we need a manager soon and the situation needs to be sorted out.

"The lads are together, we've had a meeting about it, and we feel we are a good enough side to be up there. We are letting people down with the results. There's no-one answerable for results bar us and we've got to improve. But once we get a new manager and we begin to get settled then I think we'll move forward."

Meanwhile, skipper Lee Carsley believes automatic promotion is still within Rovers grasp as the squad prepares for tonight's game against Crewe at Gresty Road.

Caretaker boss Parkes has said the play-offs are now the club's main goal following a disastrous start to the season.

But Republic of Ireland international Carsley insists Rovers have it in them to do even better than that.

"I still think we've got a chance of automatic promotion," said Carsley.

"We are coming to a strong part of the season now when a lot of teams are going to get suspensions and injuries and this is where our squad will have to kick in.

"We've got 32 good players and anyone can come into the team and do a job so we've got to aim as high as we can.

"At the start of the season we were looking at one place and that was to be promoted as number one.

"To suddenly think we'll settle for sixth place is dangerous. "Like everything in life you've got to aim as high as you can.

"So I don't think those top two positions are out of our grasp just yet."

Parkes is not expected to make too many changes at Gresty Road tonight after being impressed by his side's performance against Fulham.

So that means Callum Davidson, Matt Jansen, and Jason Wilcox may have to settle for a place on the bench again while Per Frandsen may not make the 16 at all.

"I won't change a great deal," said Parkes.

"Anyone who was at the game on Saturday saw that we won 2-0 and performed very well.

"So I can't see any reason why we need to change."

Craig Short is definitely out of the squad with a calf strain, however, but Nathan Blake returns after suspension.

Rovers will pick from: Kelly, Grayson, Harkness, Davidson, Kenna, Dailly, Peacock, Taylor, Carsley, McAteer, Duff, Dunn, Ward, Ostenstad, Blake, Jansen, Wilcox, Frandsen, Filan.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi has fitness worries over centre forward Mark Rivers ahead of tonight's clash.

Star striker Rodney Jack is already ruled out after picking up a knee injury against Portsmouth at the weekend so Gradi is desperately hoping Rivers will have recovered from 'flu.

They will pick from: Kearton, Lightfoot, Wright, Bignot, Smith, Wright (D), Macauley, Charnock, Lunt, Sorvel, Collins, Little, Jack, Rivers, Tait, Cramb, Street, Welsby.

Meanwhile, Rovers keeper Alan Fettis has been charged with misconduct after an incident with an official during last week's reserve team clash with Manchester United at Gigg Lane. The Northern Ireland international was sent off following his furious reaction to United's controversial late equaliser.

The match referee has reported Fettis for pushing the assistant referee and he now has 14 days to reply to the charges.

"There will be an appeal and we will respond with him to the FA," said chief executive John Williams. "We have looked at the video and talked to Alan so we will take it from there."

Axed Rovers boss Brian Kidd also made a brief return to football yesterday when he watched over a training session at Nationwide League rivals Manchester City.

But City boss Joe Royle has quashed rumours that his long-time friend is about to become part of his backroom staff.

"Brian was only in for a tea and a look around," said Royle.

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