IN THE closing stages of the season, it became obvious that Rovers did not have the nerve to survive in the top flight.

All around me, irrationally-optimistic Rovers' fans hoped for a last-minute reprieve - even after the Nottingham Forest debacle - true fans; "through thick-and-thin" fans; fans giving their unquestioning loyalty and unconditional support.

As a lifelong Rovers' supporter and season ticket holder, I have witnessed the team's ups and downs over the last 20 years. I wept in despair as they successfully fought off promotion, when other teams fought off relegation.

I wept with joy when they won promotion to the Premier League and again when they won that league.

And I wept again last Wednesday night, not because the team were relegated, but with pride at the support. Let's hope that next season the players can earn that support.

ANDREW BERRY, Duckworth Street, Darwen.

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