What made this club different was that there was once a human element - and TP epitomised it . I see very little of the human element present in JW . A board meeting on Tuesday that decided Parkes' fate and he still hadn't mentioned it by Friday ? What kind of self respecting Chief Executive (or manager come to that )wouldn't think about the possibility of there being a leak in that time ? Williams has apparently promised to speak to Radio Lancs after today's game . Let's hope he doesn't forget . How ferkin naive some of you people are. It happens. I have managed businesses and sad but true the business is first. It is common practice in a company to make decisions to get rid of people some time before they are told. I personally have known people that were going to be terminated up to two weeks before it happenend. It's the way it is we are not talking about a mum and dad business here. Wake up, the human element left football years ago, having one long term employee does not alter that. Good to see Rev back, must have been foaming at the mouth for a chance to have a go on this one. Wake up poeple it happens every day, not just to priveleged football "staff" but to hard working folks struggling to make end meet, does anyone here this Parkes will go hungry? Hey, maybe Parkes himself was tipped off he was going to be canned and called the press himself, anyone think of that? Let it go, Parkes has been nothing short of priveleged for a long time, let the new era begin. I'm done on this one. PS the post above this one is about the most real one I have seen yet. It's not like the bloke was up at 5am everyday then pulled 8-10 hours at the mill is it.

Yes, Chris is criticising Dickov and has been for some time.

Calm down Paul, don't do anything drastic. The idle (whatever you called them) will have their ideas changed or they too will be gone. Try to get over it and go enjoy your day in Manchester

Is this the same Mark Hughes that you slagged off mercilessly when he was appointed manager? Absolutely it is, though your statement of "slagged off mercilessly" is a gross exaggeration. Yes, I think everyone here knows my stand on Hughes appointment, it was before he was appointed actually, I was against it. I did however say that, unlike some folks in the past, I would give him full support and hope he proves me wrong, from what I have seen so far he is doing that. I did not think he had the credentials to take this club by the scruff of the neck. I stated at the time we needed someone who could rebuild this club I doubted Hughes ability to do that, its all in here for people to see so I don't need to go on and on. The difference between me and some is I will support Hughes, many others here once they have formed an opinion on someone then look for every little thing to justify their opinion, ignoring anything that goes against their opinion. Me I am open I said what I said and was of that opinion but it is turning around, and I like it. I also don't fault the club for how it turned out, anyone who really beleives it was BRFC's intention for it to turn out this way is mad, the others? well some folks just can't pass up a chance to have a pop at the club. Parkesy has been here many years yes, but why? I used to watch him play, nowt special, he saved us one year, big deal. Remember this is the same Parkes that would not play Mr Dunn. The same Mr Dunn that Souness did play yet got his pee pee smacked when he let him go. As Bryan so eloquently put it, we just fired the reserve team coach. I have deep seated feeling that Parkes was a distraction to any new boss, divided loyaltys and all that, this sends a clear message to ALL the staff at BRFC that a new era has begun, one where you perform or you are done, regardless of who you are, no resting on Laurels. Take out the human element and think of the club, this is for the best. Come on you Blues.

I can understand the sentiment on here I really can, but folks, mark this very day on your calendar for this is the first day of the rebirth of this club. It has needed a shakedown for some time, I can't help but feel a virus of apathy had infected the club at all levels. I also can't help but feel that Mark Hughes is the cure for that virus. I for one am excited, we needed fresh ideas a new approach from the ground up. A point was made in an earlier post that Sparky came here with full knowledge of TP's methods techniques etc and most likely knew before taking the job that Parksey would have to go, harsh but it is reality. A new day has dawned for Blackburn Rovers and the day will be bright, has to be, it's Blue and White. Tear 'em up Sparky give us back a team to be proud of.

Waggy, ever been in Management? It happens all the time. Often decisions to release people are made well ahead of time. Paperwork, insurance issues and severance packages are worked up and then the employee is notified, it's quite common place. To add, sometimes with longer serving people the things can take time. I have no doubt at all that Sparky and Williams had the conversation and the decision to fire Parkes was agreed sometime ago. Sparky would have had to make his case to let Tony go to Williams, it's not like he could have just called in TP and said oh Tony you're fired. Contacts would have been made with the prospective replacement to see if he would even consider coming to our great club. It would look even worse if we had fired Parkes and his replacement told us to bugger off. No I have no problems of how it was handled, I am sure all efforts toward keeping things on a professional basis were employed, it's just unfortunate that somehow the story got out. I support this decision 100%, no disrespect to Tony but I am surprised he was allowed to hang around as long as he did. And as to the question of "if this is how the club treat loyal servants" have we all forgotten this man was treated to a very very decent Salary, it's not like the man did it for free.

Williams does not have to do much to justify his overinflated salary but you would have thought he might get right the sacking of the club's long-serving senior employee. Did Williams himself ring up the Sun and tell them? You can be such a bonehead jim. With some of the past garbage press "scoops" it is almost like there is a snitch in the camp. jim, where were you yesterday evening, do you have any inside knowledge of listening devices and their operations. I don't beleive for one minute it was anyones intentions for the club to have Parkes find out that way. Listen, I watched Dream Team so I know people at Football clubs tip off the press for money. jim, you a little flush this week by any chance?

That won't matter to some Bryan. Some people will feel better with the original story and will stik with that. I find Jim's comments interesting, it seems now Souness has left he is moving on to Mr Williams.

Good grief, the biggest load of horse pucky I have ever heard.

Tony Parkes has been a great servant to this club, thanks for that, 30 years at on team is unheard of nowadadys. However having said this I have long felt that TP is something of a distraction to any new manager coming in. There will be players that will always side with TP and his ways and to some degree his mere presence could be cause for undermining what the new boss wants. Have any of you gone into a position at a new company where you are the boss yet the boss you have replaced is still employed there and is within your group. Let me tell you I have and it is a very difficult situation. It is hard to win over your new folks with the old guard still around, best thing to do, get shut. Best wishes to Tony and thanks for the service but the club is changing and the change needs to be from the ground up. Good move by Hughesy if it was in fact him who pulled the plug, one just can not afford to be sentimental in matters of this nature.

What?! Dunn can only be 2 years younger than Ferguson. David Dunn is a fat perpetually-injured big-headed delusional git. He couldn't learn if he was playing next to Pele. Maybe so Bryan but we all know David Dunn has "potential"

Surely it is not hard to understand. As a manager I would think it is much more pertinent to rate a player under your own system with players of the quality he needs to aspire to around him. Much better than trying to rate a player playing for another manager, not knowing how the player has been asked to work and playing amongst those of supposedly lesser quality. If you are looking to buy a car do you watch someone else drive it or do you test drive it yourself, makes excellent sense to me to bring the lad back in house

Is this the third or fourth time he's been linked with a move back to Rangers.

Are you actually suggesting Cole was a "clinical" finisher?

Ah that isn't true USA, he had so many players on him because Rovers just were not commiting enough players forward throughout the game. Add to that that Bothroyd, the strongest player on the pitch, was off and Norwich were having an easy time of it until we actually started to commit men forward in the last 20 mins. Could there be a little Chicken and Egg thing here, is it possible that we started to commit men forward DUE TO the space that Dickov was helping to create by drawing so many players. Did this tactic of putting so many players on Dickov not serve to help balance out our one man disadvantage. Sorry I have seen it many many times with Dickov he will command the attention a couple of players or tie one player up so much it creates a lot of openings for others. If our players fully understood what was going on and looked for his scraps this would be much more fruitful, he just does not get the support or credit he deserves on or off the pitch. I hold the opinion that Dickovs mere presence was what helped us hold Liverpool, he got in their heads.

To all you Dickov haters, (too bad we can't just sign up the Henrys and Rooneys of the World) remember when Rovers signed him? There was 8 or 9 other Prem clubs after his signature. Whose judgement do you suppose I would trust, the pros or yours. You simply must be too thick to understand what kind of a lift Dickov's work rate gives to the team as a whole. I agree I might not start him all the timebut his nuisance factor is huge, who cares how he got the ball in the net. The simple fact that Norwich were putting several defenders on him at a time sends a clear message about how good Dickov is. Until the likes of Gally start to perform and Stead recovers his scoring touch he would be one of the first names on the team sheet in my team. You need to understand his whole game.

I was beginning to suspect that.

I tend to diagree, I think Norwich will have a hard time with Dickov, he will be worth his weight in gold this game. My feelings are he will totally unsettle them, we must go into this game with the frame of mind that we should all games. Go to win.

All you predicting a win are crazy. Come on how long have you been following rovers this one smacks of humiliating defeat. Let's study the facts, we just had a good game agianst one of the leagues supposedly better team. What do we Always do after a good display, we sit back felling all happy happy joy joy about ourselves and we get beat. Norwich have not won in the Prem. No brainer there, if ever there was a team that was charitable in ending bad streaks it's us. Everytime there is a bad run for the opposing team, or one of their players is on a dry spell we dutifully oblige and help put an end to it. Plus Matteo might be back Sorry but I don't see us coming away with anything.

Well that's just bloody great. Souness MK2

I thought Fergie played quite well in the 2nd half. His poise on the ball, taking his time before making the pass looked good, he also woked very hard I thought. He looked good IMHO.

Isn't Jemal Johnson also left sided, he's been tearing it up in the reserves of late so perhaps he also has him to compete with.

Would we really have set up an appearance based fee for, what is it 5 games? I wouldn't think so.

A quick note on Emerton. Is it me or does Emo seem to have gained an extra bit of pace. He actually looked quick today, is it testimony to Hughes training or Souness' lack of it. The man is definately quicker. Decent performance much to take encouragement form. Bazza showed some real grit too. Biggest let down, you will all hate this and most likely disagree, Brad Friedal must be dropped. His covering and timeing for both goals was terrible. Flat footed stood on the line, any form of coming toward the ball and spreading himself and he could have stopped the shots, very least put the striker off. Tough do's today though I thought we actually deserved the 3 points.

Don't usually predict but I have a feeling about this one. The last two games I feel have been in part due to the players being "in between" systems. In other words, not quite into what Huhgey is trying to do and not quite rid of the way they played for Souness. I feel this is the week when it starts to click into gear. We are going to win this one, I said it afterthe Chelsea game and I am sticking by that. Not sure of the score but we are going to do 'em. I just hope we do not score early. Also to add insult to injury Rovers fans are going to nick some of the scousers cars.