COLIN Hendry feels sorry for the fans following Alan Shearer's departure from Ewood Park.

But the Scottish international vowed the rest of the Blackburn Rovers squad would take it in their stride.

"We are professionals and we'll get on with our job," said Hendry, as surprised as anyone about the sudden change in events. There are a lot of players here who will be battling to get into the first team. And we've sold two strikers in the past week, so it would not suprise me if the club went out to buy again." Although Hendry was as surprised as everyone else by the move, he didn't feel it was as a big a shock as other deals, because there had been so much speculation for so long.

"It wasn't like the Andy Cole move to Manchester United, or Eric Cantona going to Old Trafford from Leeds, because they came right out of the blue," he said.

"Obviously it wasn't something that was planned and it's not as if the board knew it was going to happen.

"They felt they had a chance of keeping him. Sometimes, there's nothing you can do about it."

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