TIM FLOWERS has put in a transfer request, admitting that he will have to leave Ewood if he cannot get first team football.

"I have no problems with Brian Kidd, no problems with the club and certainly no problem with John Filan, but I think everyone must understand my point of view," he said.

"It is quite apparent, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to work it out.

"It's obvious really and I have told the manager I don't want to hang around too long as a number two.

"That is no disrespect to anyone at the club. But the fact is that I was 32 on Wednesday and at this stage of my career it is no good me sitting on my backside."

Flowers, now fully recovered from a shoulder injury, has been unable to regain his first team place because of the outstanding form of Filan.

The Aussie now has the chance to make himself the permanent number one at Ewood, clearly having Brian Kidd's confidence.

"There have not been any rows or anything like that but that is my situation" he added.

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