RAY Harford has drawn up plans for an intense spying operation by Blackburn Rovers during Euro 96.

The Ewood boss, his assistant Tony Parkes and first team coach Derek Fazackerley will spearhead the surveillance of European football's top stars over the next few weeks.

And he revealed that the club will cover every one of the 16 teams competing in the European Championships at least once.

"We'll have representatives at most of the games and we will certainly look at every team," confirmed the Rovers manager who has been stepping up his search for at least two big signings since the end of the season.

Rovers could even renew their interest in the Russians, who will be bringing stars such as Yuri Nikiforov to England.

Harford admitted some time ago to his liking for some of their top talents, especially Nikiforov.

But attacking flair to link up with Alan Shearer is more of a priority at the moment and Rovers would like to make two major captures this summer. The club still haven't given't up hope of tempting French international striker Christophe Dugarry to accept an offer to come to Ewood.

Though all the indications from France are that he prefers to pursue a career in Italy when he leaves Bordeaux this summer.

And they are believed to have been looking at Panathinaikos attacker Georgios Donis.

The Greek season, however, hasn't finished yet, with the title still up for grabs and Panathinaikos in the driving seat. So nothing could happen until that is concluded.

Rovers' teenage defender David Worrell made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-21 side last night.

The 18-year-old helped the Irish to a 1-1 draw against Norway in Drogheda. Scorer of the Norwegian goal, incidentally, was Steffen Iversen, the youngster who grabbed Rosenborg's consolation at Ewood in the Champions' League clash.

The new first-choice kit to be worn by Rovers next season and unveiled in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on Wednesday will not be available in the club shop until later next month.

But orders are now being taken for the new strip.

Referee for the Euro 96 England v Scotland game at Wembley on June 15 will be Italian Pierluigi Pairetto, the man who was in charge of Rovers' Champions' League game away to Spartak Moscow.

On that controversial night, he sent off Colin Hendry, who is expected to line up against Ewood team-mate Alan Shearer at Wembley.

Latest Double Your Money Club £500 winner is B Fiddler, Preston, number 837A.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.