Short comes in off the post

But for central defender Craig Short, there is one significant change as he gets ready for a new challenge - the postman should not be popping the usual annual letter through his door from an irate Rovers fan!

Brian Kidd's two latest captures linked up with the manager's first summer signing, Simon Grayson, at Brockhall yesterday with Preston-born Kelly coming 'home' to East Lancashire where he has plenty of friends and relations.

And he is ready to give everything he has to try to claim the number one spot.

Short is also eager to establish himself, a niggling calf strain permitting, but the defender revealed a novel twist in the tale from when he rejected an earlier move to then-Premiership Rovers back in 1992.

Instead he chose Derby, still trying for promotion, and recalled: "I used to get a letter every year from a Blackburn fan after I made the decision, telling me that the first year they finished fourth, the next year they were second and the year after that they won the championship.

"Every year he wrote to me.

"It was someone from Clitheroe. I don't know his name and address but it was quite amusing.

"And then when Derby got to the play-offs, we were knocked out by Leicester and Simon (Grayson) was captain at Leicester!"

Now he has finally arrived, Short, who eventually went on to reach the Premiership with Everton, has no regrets about the past and neither has Kelly who, like his new team-mate, is now concentrating on the future. "I look at the set-up here and everything about it is just Premiership," said the Republic of Ireland keeper.

"And I have come here to compete for the first-team spot.

"I don't think you go to any club expecting to be number one or number two. It's about two or three keepers competing for that jersey.

"You all believe in your own ability and putting in your all.

"I have come here to play in the first team and that means I am going to work as hard as I can.

"I appeciate that John did ever so well last year, got the player of the year and, over the three days since I met him, he seems a fantastic lad.

"But, at the end of the day, we both have a steely will to play in the first team and I think that's what the gaffer wants.

"I am under no illusions that it is going to be a very hard task but I have had challenges all my life, I have competed all my life with other keepers and I don't see why I should stop now.

"If you don't have that competition, you lose a little bit out of your club.

"Shall we say, for want of a better word, it's cut-throat. Everybody works hard, everybody wants to play but, at the end of the day, it's about a squad system and you have to keep it in your mind that it's all about Blackburn Rovers getting back in the Premiership. "That has to be the key."

Coming home to his roots is a real bonus for Kelly who is looking forward to moving back and hasn't quite lost his accent.

Both men know what it takes to compete in the First Division and Short appreciates what Rovers will be up against after every opposing side targeted big-spending Derby while he was there.

"Every team plays against you like it's a cup final and it's very difficult," said the central defender.

"But I think, looking back, the Derby side we had then was full of individuals and not a team, while this squad here is full of players who will work together.

"I have noticed that even in the two days I have been here.

"There's more character about the team and a bit more of the work ethic which I think you need.

"All the individuals at Derby went on to play in the Premiership but, as a team, we just didn't do it."

Short also believes there is a 'Premiership' feel to the squad Kidd is building.

"You look at the Everton squad and I think if Blackburn had maintained their Premiership status this year and you compared those squads - with Everton doing what they are doing - you would have fancied Blackburn to do a little bit better."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.