ROY Hodgson officially took over as manager of Blackburn Rovers only today but he revealed he had been drawing up his battle plans for months.

The new Ewood boss was unveiled to the nation's Press at Ewood and outlined his hopes for more success.

For he stressed that his ambitions matched Jack Walker's - to take the club back to the top.

But there will not be any overnight miracles.

"I realise that expectations are high, that is the same at all big football clubs," he said.

"But, as in all sports, building something worthwhile can take time, especially when you are bringing in a lot of new personnel.

"My ambitions, however, are the same as Mr Walker's and the chairman's, to do everything possible to bring success back to this club."

Rovers have had to wait a long time for Hodgson, who accepted their offer in the last week of February, following Sven Goran Eriksson's controversial about-turn.

Their new man was still contracted to Inter Milan but he quit the San Siro after the disappointment of missing out on the UEFA Cup in a penalty shoot-out.

Now, after a much-needed holiday, he can't wait to get started on his new job back home in England.

"I have been looking forward to coming here to start work ever since I told Mr Walker and the chairman that I would accept their offer in February," he said.

"My wife and I have already been over here a couple of times to look at houses in the area and I hope that underlines my commitment. "I am really looking forward to meeting all the players and getting down to work with them.

"But, obviously, I have been working away in the background and planning ahead ever since I said I would join the club.

"And I have been in regular contact with both Tony Parkes and the chairman Robert Coar."

Parkes, who did such a good job to steer Rovers out of relegation trouble last season, becomes Hodgson's assistant manager and the pair have high hopes that they can set the club back on an upward path.

There are expected to be more signings to come in the very near future - Sweden's World Cup hero Martin Dahlin's name is still very prominent in the frame - and Hodgson said he wouldn't have any qualms about going into the transfer market in a big way.

"I'm not afraid of spending money but I would like to spend it wisely," he said.

Hodgson will also have to sit down and talk with several players already at Ewood about their futures.

He has had talks with Graeme Le Saux and there are high hopes that the England full back will return to Ewood and settle down after much of the speculation about him moving South seems to have calmed down.

Jason Wilcox is another who aims to discuss his future with the new boss and others will probably feel that way.

But Hodgson wants to keep all his established stars if possible. "There's no point bringing good players into the club if the ones who are already here want to leave or are allowed to leave," is his stance.

Hodgson has already been behind the early singings of defenders Stephane Henchoz, from Hamburg, and Patrick Valery, Bastia, and just before the manager's arrival last night the club clinched the capture of John Filan.

The move for the Coventry goalkeeper, exclusively revealed in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, was completed after a couple of days of talks and the usual medical formalities.

A fee has still to be agreed for the 27-year-old Aussie, who was born in Sydney and began playing with the Budapest St George club.

Filan played 68 League games for Cambridge United, after coming to England, then moved to Highfield Road for £300,000.

His appearances were limited as number two to Steve Ogrizovic but he will now take on a similar role as cover for Tim Flowers.

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