Here is a round-up of Rovers news from the last 24 hours.

 

TOMASSON’S TRIP OUT

Jon Dahl Tomasson used his free midweek to take in some League One action.

Tomasson was in attendance as Portsmouth beat Fleetwood 2-0 at Highbury.

Colby Bishop scored his 15th goal of the season before Joe Piggott came off the bench to double the advantage for Pompey who saw Joe Morrell sent off midway through the second half.

It is not the first time Tomasson has taken in some League One action during his time at Rovers, while he has also attended Championship matches when the schedule has afforded.

Whether there was another motive for his trip is unclear at this stage.

Fleetwood technical director Jon Walters watched Rovers Under-21s win over Everton earlier this month.

Rovers have also previously had interest in Pompey winger Ronan Curtis, having first looked at him in the January window of 2020.

They were also involved in talks with Portsmouth last week over a move for Aynsley Pears, only for that to fall through, with Matt Macey keeping a second clean sheet in two matches since his arrival at the club from Luton Town.

 

BIG SAM’S NO-GO

Sam Allardyce has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Cardiff City manager’s job.

Allardyce was heavily linked with the position after the sacking of Mark Hudson.

The 68-year-old has been out of work since the end of the 2020/21 season, and said of a potential move to the Championship club: “I am not going to Cardiff, and I haven’t been approached by Cardiff to even have a conversation.

“Everyone can listen to this, I’m not going down to Wales.”

Allardyce, who managed Rovers for 90 matches between December 2008 and December 2010, has also been linked with another of his former clubs, Everton.

However, he told the William Hill betting show: “If I was going to Everton they’d have rang me by now.

“I know Farhad Moshiri, I have a lot of respect for him, the money he’s found for Everton.

“They’ve invested in players that haven’t delivered, through various different managers.

“I bought two when I was there, but I hold up my achievement because it is the best, from 16th or 17th to eighth in 22 matches.

“What they need is someone who can go in and get the team functioning straight away.

“All the stuff about 'all Sam spoke about was defending and defending', yes it’s true because they’d conceded more goals than anyone else and that’s why they were bottom of the league.”

 

BIRMINGHAM BACKING

Birmingham City are approaching a sell-out for the lower tier of the Darwen End for this weekend’s FA Cup tie with Rovers.

Appetite has been high among Blues fans for the game, with reduced ticket prices while the St Andrew’s club having put on 10 free coaches for supporters making the trip to Ewood Park.

Tickets are now on general sale, and should sales exceed 4,000, then the upper tier of the Darwen End will be open and the allocation extended.

The sides meet in the fourth round on Saturday, with a replay date already set for Tuesday, January 31.

If required, Birmingham have announced they will employ the same ticket prices as Rovers for the game.

 

MOLDE MOVE FOR BERGET

Jo Inge Berget has the opportunity to return to his native Norway after receiving a contract offer from Molde.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Malmo at the end of 2022, but one of his former clubs have offered him a deal.

He has long been linked with a reunion with Jon Dahl Tomasson at Rovers, and reports in Norway say he has had offers from England, but no club is named.

There is also overseas interest in the forward who has also had spells at Cardiff City and Celtic.

 

HIBS HIGH ON PARK

John Park is under consideration for the director of football role at Hibernian.

Park has previously worked for the club as academy director, but is best known for his work at Celtic.

He joined Rovers in the summer of 2021, but left after just 12 months following the departure of Tony Mowbray.

Park is currently working at Rangers, but reports north of the border suggest he is on a shortlist to take on the new role at Easter Road.