AMID all the 'ifs' and 'buts' as to Rovers' position - not good enough, bad previous management, spending on players with less ability than outgoing ones, a horrendous season for injuries and red cards, to name but a few - perhaps we should look at four years ago.

After winning the championship, beating the great Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers was a name to be proud of.

What happened? Nothing - except the start of an exodus of not only the manager but the bulk of top players who had brought this win about.

The apathy shown by the Board at that time was the beginning of the end.

Let's face it, soccer is now nothing more than big business.

Let's hope lessons can be learned from this disaster.

J HOLDEN, Navigation Way, Blackburn.

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