SWEDISH World Cup hero Martin Dahlin has reaffirmed his interest in playing in the Premiership for Blackburn Rovers who are also pressing ahead with their efforts to sign goalkeeper John Filan from Coventry City.

AS Roma striker Dahlin says he has had a concrete offer to move from Serie A to Ewood.

But further progress on that front may have to wait until new manager Roy Hodgson's much-anticipated arrival tomorrow.

As we revealed exclusively in last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, however, Australian Filan, aged 27, is out of contract and the man Rovers see as a replacement for Shay Given to compete with Tim Flowers for the first team spot.

Coventry have been officially informed of the Ewood interest in him and he is a free agent and able to negotiate with anyone.

Rovers want an experienced man in place to give Flowers back-up before the start of the season and Filan could be the answer to their search.

He was on the bench for every Coventry game last season, but managed a number of Premiership appearances the previous season when Steve Ogrizovic was injured. He moved to Highfield Road from Cambridge for £300,000 and Coventry are expected to ask a fee of around £750,000.

If Rovers decide to go all the way, they would probably have to go to tribunal to sort out the fee.

Meanhwile, as we also reported last night, Dahlin is looking favourably on a move to England - something he has been against in the past.

"I have now changed my mind about playing in England. Everything now depends on Roy Hodgson, but it would be a pleasure to play under him," said the striker, who would cost around £2.5 million.

Dahlin starred in Switzerland's run to the 1994 World Cup semi-finals and has never forgotten the part Hodgson played in his career when the pair were at Malmo together.

Hodgson is due to take charge officially tomorrow and, although two transfers have already been completed, he will have several others on his mind. There is the bid to sign Anders Andersson from Malmo, as well as the continuing search for attacking players.

He faces a hectic few days with new staff to meet as well before leaving for Scandinavia and the club's pre-season tour.

Mike Kelly, expected to be a front-runner for the vacant goalkeeping coach's job at Ewood, has ended a three-year stint at Middlesbrough by moving to Nottingham Forest.

Kelly, a former England goalkeeping coach, is well known to Hodgson after working with Switzerland at the 1994 World Cup finals.

He has also worked in a similar capacity at several other clubs, including Liverpool.

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