I SUGGEST people stop dredging up the past and put some positive support behind one and all down at Ewood.

There are too many Rovers' fans who harp on about "ambition" while doing nothing but damage to the club they supposedly support.

If Rovers fail to match up to the high expectations of supporters then the knockers and moaners will have contributed to that failure - people need encouragement not telling that their ability is in doubt before they kicked a ball.

MICHAEL BARKER, Park Road, Chorley

WHO are these carping armchair managers (Your Shout, August 19)? Give Hodgson a sporting chance to mould HIS team. He will know who wants to play for him and un a style he favours. A team is more than the worth of the individual players. Give me willing, loyal and hard-working players who are delighted to play for each other over less altruistic individuals. I am optimistic that a new proud and glorious era is starting.

ROY ANDERSON, Mount Bridges, Ontario, Canada

I THOUGHT the Rovers were very good against Liverpool. But I wish Jason Wilcox had stayed on the wing. He is very effective there but he has a tendency to wander inside. Lars Bohinen made a big difference when he came on. He is a good footballer and he should be given more of a chance.

I think the Rovers will have a good season and finish in the top five.

ARTHUR FINCH, Cowell Way, Blackburn

STUART Ripley is back to his best - fast direct and accurate. Super wing play from a committed Rover.

MARK JARRETT, Woodlands Grove, Darwen

WE NOW know after the Liverpool game that Rovers can come back from 1-0 down which, in the past, they couldnt' do. We can be right up there and get a European place.

EDWARD ASPIN, Langho, Blackburn

REGARDING "Your Shout" (LET, August 19), Peter Eastwood, M C Pomfret and Leslie Cowburn, were full of criticism about Rovers.

Why don't they transfer their support to another club? Rovers can well do without their sort of over-reactive sniping. Wake up, please. Admittedly, things haven't exactly gone to plan since the championship-winning season, but now is surely the time for all Rovers fans to get behind Roy Hodgson and the team - which, I might add, haven't made such a bad start to the season. Things are definitely on the up.

WILLIAM RODGERS, Pinewood, Blackburn

REGARDING the four letters published in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph (Your Shout - Rovers, Aug 19).

The half-truths, distortions and assertions made in these letters lessen the credibility of some of the criticisms levelled at BRFC. I would ask the letter writers to listen, at every opportunity to the new manager. He talks a great deal of common sense. In my opinion he is an ideal manager - he has experience, he is articulate, he is at ease with the media and he seems to have the confidence of the players.

MIKE BRENNAN, Ennerdale Close, Clitheroe

I ONLY hope that Roy Hodgson does not think the letters in "Your Shout" (LET, August 19) were representative of the views of the average Rovers supporter.

The new manager is bringing the best out of players like Ripley and Wilcox who under previous managers were a shadow of themselves.

There is so much to be positive about the Rovers and yet we still get the usual griping.

J ROSTRON, Belgrave, Darwen

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