ROY HODGSON will be handed an open cheque book when he arrives at Ewood Park next month as he attempts to build a side capable of competing with Europe's elite.

A place in Europe will be Hodgson's target and Jack Walker is set to hand over a fair slice of his fortune to help the new manager turn Rovers into a force again.

Uncle Jack has already said he will do all he can to make sure the disaster of last season never happens again - and that is bound to signal an influx of some of the best players from across the Continent.

Tony Parkes, who led the side to safety, has already revealed that Hodgson has a number of top players in mind and that Rovers will not be left behind in the summer transfer race.

Says Hodgson: "If I see a player who I really think could benefit the club I don't have to worry whether we can afford him. If I say to Jack that I've found a player but he's expected to cost £10 million I'm sure I'll be given the money."

It will be a far cry from his brief spell as manager of struggling Bristol City. There were more bailiffs around than supporters. "It wasn't a serious experience of English football," he said ruefully.

His first priority is to establish Rovers firmly at the top of the Premiership alongside Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool. The second - Europe!

He'll certainly have plenty of cash to splash out. But how deep will Walker's pockets prove to be? The European transfer spiral is spinning madly with rumours of a £25 million approach by desperate Inter to Barcelona for Brazilian Ronaldo. And that could be backed by a salary of close on £3 million a year.

It's a wonder little Bryan Douglas can sleep at nights! How times have changed. It's hard to imagine Ronaldo, Shearer and the rest of today's stars being left to end their playing days in the kick-and-rush of Great Harwood's Showground . . .

Meanwhile, Hodgson will be in no mood to unload Rovers' established stars which will be bad news for a string of top Premiership clubs chasing the likes of Colin Hendry - with Liverpool the latest side to be linked with the Scottish ace.

Braveheart Hendry - Blackburn's most popular player since Douglas - battled through the pain barrier to make sure Rovers survived in the Premiership and has admitted that it would take something very drastic to prise him away from the club he loves.

Tim Sherwood will miss the first three games of next season after being sent off at Southampton for spitting at Jim Magilton.

Midfield hardman Billy McKinlay is set for a showdown with the FA after amassing 45 disciplinary points.

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