THIS week's departure of Chris Coleman for Fulham leaves young Marlon Broomes now definitely part of the pool of four central defenders from which two are chosen for the first team.

And manager Roy Hodgson acknowledged that his opportunity could arise soon as long as he remains fit.

"If we don't have enough faith in Marlon Broomes then we shouldn't have offered him a new contract. We can't be blocking his career by just keeping him down with the reserve side or the youth team," said the manager.

"He's got to have a chance and I'm sure it will come and his problem will be to stay fit. In the six months I have been with the club, he has been wracked with various injuries."

ROVERS have sold their allocation of tickets for next Saturday's Premiership fixture with Arsenal at Highbury, which will have a full house.

THE FA Youth Cup second round replay between Manchester United and Rovers will be staged at Old Trafford on Monday night (kick-off 7pm).

Among the guests watching the first meeting at Ewood this week - it finished 1-1 - was former Rovers winger Ian Miller.

He is currently youth coach at Manchester City.

THERE is yet another meeting with Manchester United next Thursday night, when the clubs clash in the Pontin's League Premier Division at Ewood (7pm).

Rovers have only one other scheduled Pontin's League fixture before Christmas and that is away to Tranmere on Wednesday, December 17.

Their Pontin's League programme then closes down until Wednesday, January 7, when Derby County visit Ewood (7pm).

A SPECIAL Christmas offer has been made available to fans for the home games against West Ham United on Saturday, December 20 (3pm), and Crystal Palace, Sunday, December 28 (3pm).

Anyone buying one adult and one child ticket in the Darwen End upper tier for both these home matches will receive a substantial discount.

Normally, the four tickets would cost £52 but they are on offer for £40.

Seats for both matches are now on open sale and category B prices apply - £16-20 (concessions where applicable £10).

The ticket office and telesales ticket hotline are open from 9am-5-30pm every weekday.

DRAW for the third round of the FA Cup is due to take place tomorrow around 6-15pm. It will be televised by ITV and broadcast on BBC Radio Five.

Saturday, January 3, has been set aside for third round matches and the proximity of the FA Cup is the reason there are no League matches scheduled for New Year's Day this season.

Rovers are also without a scheduled Premiership fixture on Saturday, January 24, which is the date of the fourth round.

LATEST Double Your Money Club £500 winner is J Andrews (Simonstone), number 025A.

THIS morning's A team game against Burnley at Brockhall was called off yesterday afternoon because of ground conditions.

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