FANS will be able to buy Blackburn Rovers match tickets and merchandise in the town centre with the opening of a new club shop.

The club has opened the new shop at the former Game site in The Mall Shopping Centre in Blackburn after an absence of more than 10 years from the town centre.

Rovers bosses have decided to make the move back into the town centre to boost sales for the forthcoming season.

The shop will be officially opened in two weeks in the Mall by club manager Sam Allardyce.

Simon Williams, head of commercial and marketing at the club, said: "This is fantastic news for the club and our fans.

"For the first time we are able to offer a wide range of Rovers official merchandise, match tickets, including season iickets, and matchday hospitality, all under one roof.

“We have been determined to make supporting Rovers as easy as possible for our fans - and this is a vital step in that process.”

Loraine Jones, general manager at The Mall, Blackburn, welcomed the club to the town centre.

She said: “We are delighted to welcome the Blackburn Rovers Store to The Mall Blackburn.

"The new store will add even more variety to our already diverse range of shops.”