RON Atkinson told his buddy Brian Kidd today - If you want to stay up, don't panic and stick to your beliefs.

Atkinson was aiming to do his best to push Blackburn Rovers nearer the drop as he took charge of Nottingham Forest at Ewood this afternoon for his penultimate match before retirement.

But he still had some words of advice for a long-time friend.

"I know Kiddo ever so well and he's a great lad," he said.

"He's got to keep his cool, stick to his beliefs and try not to transmit any fear or panic to his players.

"I suppose that's the standard advice."

Big Ron has been unable to keep Forest in the Premiership. Like the situation at Ewood with Kidd, they were already deep in trouble when he took over. But he stressed they would be battling to finish on as high a note as possible and would be coming to Ewood to win.

Is he surprised to see Rovers still down there struggling?

"Frankly, yes I am. You would have thought they would have been one of the teams among the runners and riders.

"But it just shows you how competitive the Premiership is.

"And you have to look at some of the major players who have left Blackburn - the likes of Shearer, Sherwood, Hendry, Batty, Le Saux.

"That's a big chunk out of any side and the other man Sutton has been out for a long time with injuries.

"Who will be going down with us? I'll tell you who's not going down, Manchester United and Arsenal."

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