SECRETARY John Howarth is leaving Blackburn Rovers next week after more than 25 years at Ewood Park.

Mr Howarth's departure - by mutual agreement - came as a surprise to the rest of the Ewood staff when they were told yesterday.

But he stressed that he was leaving on good terms and simply felt as though he needed a "new challenge".

Mr Howarth, 49, joined the Ewood office staff late in 1970 and was quickly promoted to secretary, the youngest in the Football League at the time.

"The job has changed a lot, especially in the last few years," he said.

"I think I have gone as far as I possibly could and a change will do me good.

"It has been a long time, more than half of my life, and no doubt I will be sad when the time comes to leave next Friday. "But I will leave on good terms with everybody and I am looking forward to taking on a new challenge.

"I am hoping to have a bit of a break and then there are one or two options I am looking at." Rovers vice-chairman Richard Matthewman informed the rest of the staff yesterday and said: "On behalf of the board I would like to thank John for his long service to the club.

"We understand his reasons for wanting to leave. Until things started to change four or five years ago, the secretary's job was vastly different.

"It has happened at a number of clubs in recent times, with the set-up changing and more emphasis in other areas, with the commercial side taking on more importance."

When Mr Howarth joined the club there was just a handful of full-time staff. Now it's a massive organisation with a turnover of millions.

Rovers are expected to advertise for a replacement, and would no doubt like to make an early appointment with the new season not too far away. "We don't have anything up our sleeves, we are starting from scratch," added Mr Matthewman.

The club agreed to a short notice period for Mr Howarth in recognition of his long service.

Rovers will make a short pre-season trip to Holland as part of their build-up to the new Premiership campaign.

Three games in England had already been arranged, at Colchester (Aug 3), Cambridge (Aug 5) and Preston (Aug 12), and Rovers will now go to Arnhem on August 7 and Volendam on August 9.

They have arranged to play a three-cornered mini-tournament in Arnhem with 45 minutes against the hosts Vitesse Arnhem and 45 minutes against Spanish club Sevilla. The other two clubs also play 45 minutes against each other.

Rovers then move on to Volendam to play a friendly against the Dutch side on the Friday.

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