BLACKBURN Rovers could miss out on Nicky Barmby, despite stepping up their interest in Middlesborough's England international with a £5 million bid.

Barmby, dropped by Boro boss Bryan Robson for their Coca-Cola Cup tie with Huddersfield last night, is believed to be on his way out of Teesside.

Robson refused to discuss the situation at the post-match Press conference but sources close to the club claim that the unsettled player will be leaving soon - providing Boro get their asking price, which is thought to be between £5-6 million.

Rovers, however, would still face problems, even if they were to meet the fee.

Good contacts on Teesside told me: "Blackburn's position at the bottom of the table would hardly appeal to an England international.

"And now that they seem to have opened the door about a possible transfer, other clubs are likely to be interested."

Competition is expected to come particularly from Leeds United, and also from Everton. A move to Leeds would be ideal for Barmby who lives on Humberside, just down the M62. The other major problem for Rovers is the uncertainty over the managerial situation.

With Ray Harford under pressure and in severe danger of losing the manager's job at any moment, Rovers can hardly start trying to complete major transfers.

And a player would want to know exactly what was going to happen before committing himself to a new club.

There is another danger and that is Middlesbrough might try to start an auction if they decide they can use the Barmby money to better use elsewhere - to shore up a leaking defence, for example.

If Rovers have set the bottom line for bidding, Boro could attempt to push up the price by alerting other clubs.

It would ironic if Barmby became officially available just at the worst possible time for Rovers.

He is a player that Harford has admired strongly in the past but, for one reason or another, was unable to get him.

Rovers have certainly had contact with Boro and my information is that a bid was tabled.

Previously, the response from Teesside has been "not for sale" but that hard line could well be softening, especially in view of Robson's reluctance to talk about the player last night. It might have come too late as far as Rovers are concerned.

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