PROVIDING he is fit, I firmly believe that Alan Shearer will be lining up in a Blackburn Rovers shirt when the 1996-97 Premiership season kicks off in August.

That is contrary to the recent crop of reports in the national Press - described as "frivolous fiction" by Ewood chairman Robert Coar.

They would have us believe that Shearer is on his way to Manchester United. Indeed, they claim negotiations have already started.

All that was denied again by Alex Ferguson today. The United manager even went so far as to say that when he starts his transfer dealings after Euro 96, they will NOT involve Shearer.

Often, some things are said and other things are done in football. But every scrap of information I have been able to glean on this subject suggests the same thing.

It's a non-starter and it seems to be a case of the silly season starting early in the national newspapers.

Jack Walker said it exclusively in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph nearly two weeks ago - as far as he is concerned Shearer is STAYING.

I have no reason at all to doubt that.

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