BLACKBURN Rovers manager Don Mackay was on a top secret mission to try to strengthen his squad for an Ewood promotion push.

And his target was Barcelona's Scottish international striker Steve Archibald - the man Rovers had tried to sign at the start of the season.

Mackay and Rovers secretary John Howarth had been missing for three days and the length of absence suggested they were abroad in a bid to pull off a transfer coup.

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