IS it time for Ray Harford to go? That's the 64,000 dollar question as Blackburn Rovers reflect on a catastrophic start to the season, writes PETER WHITE.

And it's time for Jack Walker and the board to make a decision.

The manager was even asking himself the question after another Ewood flop left Rovers hot favourites to take the disastrous drop back into the relative oblivion of the Football League.

A large number of supporters voiced their protests from the stands at Ewood on Saturday.

Harford acknowledged their dissent but, while admitting the majority view would probably rule in the end and he might even resign if that was best for everybody, he still wants to do the job and believes he can do it.

But the present crisis needs positive action - now.

The uncertainty that the situation is causing is probably doing more damage to the club than anything.

Harford has his supporters as well as his detractors and the only chance of uniting the two, and letting the players know where they stand so they might be able to regain a little confidence, is to make a decision. In other words, either come out publicly and back the manager - or sack him.

On Saturday, it was five years to the day since Harford and Kenny Dalglish arrived at Ewood. In some respects, the manager has twice been dropped in it over the past 16 months or so.

Firstly when Dalglish sensationally quit and the club asked him to help them by taking over the reins.

He had vowed he wouldn't move up from inside again, after being in that position three times before, but did it out of loyalty to the club who clearly didn't know where else to turn.

Secondly, Alan Shearer's late exit left a huge hole in his resources and that was out of his hands.

The lack of major signings in the past two summers has been a major bone of contention. But has that been down solely to Harford or to club policy in general?

That has never been satisfactorily answered.

Harford, frankly and honestly, summed up his situation after another traumatic afternoon against Arsenal.

He revealed he had twice offered to resign last season and had "half offered" again this season if the board felt that was the best thing for the club. The manager clearly felt on Saturday that a growing number of people wanted to see him leave.

"When you are not winning, especially at home, confidence goes," he said.

"You think about it all the time. You get letters in the local paper, supporters at the ground and it grows bigger.

"I am certainly aware of it.

"Whether I act upon it, or they (Jack Walker and the board) act upon it that's for me and them to decide.

"I am not going to make any decisions in the next few days but situations change your thinking. "It's not a matter of considering my future but the situation. We are bottom of the League and haven't won a game.

"But I am prepared to do the job if everyone else wants me to do it."

A number of fans have made their feelings plain, both ways.

It's time for the club to end the uncertainty either by pledging their unconditional support for the manager or declaring that it's time for a change and bring in a new man with enough time left to sort out the mess they have got themselves into on the field.

James Thomas scored a consolation goal for Rovers A team in their 2-1 defeat at Stoke. Steve Watkins (2), Luke Staton, Craig Woodfield and Garth Scates were all on target as the B team defeated Marine Youth 5-0.

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