POLICE were today preparing to defend under-fire soccer chief Bill Archer from angry fans if a protest at his East Lancashire home gets out of hand.

Head of Blackburn Police Superintendent Eddie Walsh has drawn up plans to put officers on the gate of the Brighton and Hove Albion chairman's house in Whinney Lane, Mellor.

But he is waiting to gauge the mood of the scores of irate supporters who have vowed the protest at the way the club is being run before and after the team's clash at Wigan Athletic today. Supporters are angry at the decision of Mr Archer and the Brighton board to sell the Goldstone Ground and the breakdown of talks over a possible takeover by businessman Nick Knight's consortium.

Supt Walsh said: "We have received information about the planned protest. We will obviously be doing something but it all depends on what happens.

"We will be keeping a close eye on the situation and we will be ready to respond if required."

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