ROVERS: Hodgson slams discipline system

The Blackburn Rovers boss, set to lose the services of Patrick Valery for two matches from next Wednesday, wants to see the system changed and believes that will happen next season.

"I hope so, because the system is obviously wrong. Wrong in a number of ways and the League Managers' Association are dealing with it," he said.

"They have already got very clear ideas to present to the Football Association and from what I have seen I am fully supportive of them.

"And I am sure it will change next year.

"The worst thing is that people lose three matches in a row and two matches in a row. That virtually puts them out of the team.

"That would be okay if the yellow card system was totally uniform but it never can be. So you will see an offence provoke a yellow card in one game, next game it won't.

"It depends on the mood of the referee, sometimes the mood of the game, the reaction of the crowd, so many things.

"There's always going to be that inherent injustice."

Hodgson feels the system in Italy is fairer.

"It's different, you are never banned for more than one game at a time," he said.

"I think it was five yellow cards for one game, four for the next and so on, a sliding scale.

"The things that are wrong about this (English) system are the obvious things, the first that it transcends competitions with bookings picked up in reserve team games counting for the first team.

"You could argue that for the cups as well. The teams who go further in the cups are more likely to lose players through suspension than those who go out in the first round.

"And the other thing that is wrong with it is that you can't ban professional players for three matches in a row because it is affecting their career.

"They can be a regular in the team and, after three matches, they are out and another guy has come in.

"Suspension has to be one match at a time, the system can be discussed after that and I would prefer to see different rules for different competitions." Hodgson has little time at all for the present set-up.

"There are so many anomalies," he said.

"It's ridiculous that we can use a reserve team game to get one of Stephane Henchoz's bookings squashed.

"Putting someone out to stroll through a reserve game should not affect the booking system.

"But when you are confronted with an unjust system you use all the means at your disposal. So I make no apologies for using Henchoz in that game. But I don't think it's correct.

"I think the disciplinary rules are designed to keep secretaries in jobs because they are the only people who can tell you what the rules are!"

Valery has accumulated five yellow cards and will serve his two-game ban against West Ham and Leicester.

Yet two of those cautions came in reserve team games.

Meanwhile, there is likely to be quite a lot of interest shown in Lars Bohinen who, as we revealed in last night's later editions, has had a second transfer request accepted. Hodgson would rather keep Bohinen, as he is a big admirer of the player's ability, but he has accepted the reality of the situation where he cannot give the Norwegian a regular senior place.

Rovers haven't put a price on his head but they value him highly.

Sheffield Wednesday are one club believed to have looked at him.

Hodgson's prime concern after today's trip to Southampton will be to try to get Chris Sutton, who missed the Premiership game with a virus, fit for Wednesday's cup tie against West Ham.

There is renewed speculation today linking Rovers with Pierluigi Casiraghi at Lazio. Reports say Rovers assistant Tony Parkes flew to Italy this week to watch the Italian in action.

Tickets for the FA Cup replay will be available in the RoverStore tomorrow (11am-3pm) and from the ticket office as normal from Monday.

Rovers' game at Chelsea, postponed on March 28, has been re-arranged for Wednesday, April 29 (7.45pm).

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