FORMER Blackburn Rovers boss Ray Harford is poised to try to pull off at least one transfer swoop at his old club - and winger Stuart Ripley looks to be his prime target.

I understand that Harford, given financial backing to turn First Division West Bromwich Albion into promotion contenders next season, has already been in contact with Rovers.

And sources very close to West Brom reckon that Ripley is top of a wanted list that could also include Paul Warhurst and Graham Fenton.

There were questions raised as to whether Harford would be given the cash he wanted to rebuild his squad.

But, since then, he has been active in the market, paying Preston North End £1 million for left winger Kevin Kilbane and adding another left-sided player to his squad in defender Graham Potter from Southampton.

Now he is looking at other areas, particularly the right wing.

A Hawthorns source told me: "He has had assurances that he has got money to spend and to bring in a couple of Premiership-standard players."

Kevin Donovan filled the right-flank role for West Brom last season, but he is out of contract this summer and is unlikely to accept the terms which have been offered.

Harford rates Ripley highly, even though the winger has just endured something of a nightmare season through injury.

He started only a handful of games but looked fit, fresh and back to his best when he appeared for Rovers as a substitute in the last three games of the season.

Warhurst is already looking for another club, having rejected the offer of new terms at Ewood, while Harford has been a long-term admirer of Fenton and was responsible for signing him from Aston Villa.

Rovers will be open to offers for a number of players this summer but any movement will depend on the individuals and, of course, money.

The FA Premier League will run its own youth section for under-18s next season, but Rovers, along with other top clubs from the North West, have decided not to enter for the moment.

They will monitor the progress of the new league and they can apply in future if they feel it would be advantageous.

But chairman Robert Coar said: "Most of the clubs in this area feel that our needs are well looked after by the Lancashire League. This is aimed mainly at other parts of the country but we will be watching how things go."

Steve Hitchen, one of the young professionals released by Rovers at the end of the season, has joined Football League newcomers Macclesfield Town.

The full back has played regularly at reserve team level for Rovers but his only first team experience came in the Champions' League.

Hitchen was called up to the substitutes' bench for the away tie with Legia Warsaw because of a shortage of senior players.

Macclesfield, promoted from the GM Vauxhall Conference at the end of last season, have been watching the 20-year-old for some time.

There are still some tickets left for "An Evening with Tony Parkes" at Ewood tonight (7-30pm for 8pm). They will be on the door, price £2 for Supporters' Association members, £3 for non-members.

Latest Double Your Money Club £500 winner is F Dearden (Darwen), number 359A.

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