MARLON Broomes' appeal against his red card has been thrown out and the Blackburn Rovers defender will start a three-match ban with the game against Everton next Wednesday night.

Rovers had hoped that referee Uriah Rennie would reconsider his verdict after sending in video evidence from the incident at Stamford Bridge in which Chelsea player-manager Gianluca Vialli was also sent off.

But their appeal has fallen on stoney ground and, incredibly, Broomes will become the 11th Rovers player to have collected a suspension at senior level this season!

The blacklist reads: Kenna, Henchoz, Peacock, Perez, Sherwood, Wilcox, Sutton, Davies, Dahlin, McKinlay and Broomes.

Ewood chief executive John Williams was disappointed by the decision.

He acknowledged that not many red-card decisions were overturned but commented: "Having said that, we do not make frivolous appeals and we felt there were good grounds for a change of mind.

"But that is the result and we have to get on with it."

Rovers now have three men facing imminent bans, including two central defenders, Broomes and Darren Peacock, for next Saturday's relegation scrap with Coventry.

Peacock has picked up a one-match ban for accumulated bookings, as has Chris Sutton who misses Wednesday's game against Everton.

It will leave manager Brian Kidd with a major headache for the Coventry game.

His only available and experienced central defender will be Stephane Henchoz, who has already helped the club out of a spot by persuading Switzerland to release him from next Wednesday's friendly international with Austria.

Kidd's choices will be limited and it could lead to a call for young Martin Taylor to make his full senior debut after a brief substitute appearance - as an emergency attacker! - in the UEFA Cup tie at Lyon. If the manager is reluctant to risk the 19-year-old, another options would be Gary Croft, who has played in the centre of defence for Grimsby in the past.

Or, if Chris Sutton is fit, he might even consider asking the striker to temporarily revert to his one-time role and partner Henchoz.

In a bid to help themselves, Rovers are continuing their search for re-inforcements, especially in the centre of midfield. But they have not had any joy so far, even though Williams stressed that there was no lack of effort.

Speculation has continued in Scotland that Rovers will join the chase for Celtic's unsettled defender Alan Stubbs, especially as Aston Villa seem to be losing interest after being quoted a fee in excess of £6 million.

But that is not a priority for Rovers and they are not looking in that direction.

John Williams today stressed that a "survey" being sent around by Crossley Fax Broadcasting of Bolton had nothing to do with the club.

Rovers are concerned fans might think it is an official survey as they are currently carrying out their own research.

A number of supporters had sent copies of the leaflets, which contain some major spelling errors, to the club. They ask for fans' answers to Rovers' present problems with a premium rate number to fax back replies.

It is also claimed the results of the survey will be forwarded to Ewood.

"We have no knowledge of this at all and it has certainly not been commissioned by the club," said the chief executive. "Fans should not confuse it with the current telephone research which is being carried out by us and is ongoing." Gary Croft has been named as the latest Ewood winner of the Wilkinson Sword player of the week award by the sponsors for his performance when he went on as a substitute against West Ham last Saturday.

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