The accounts were approved by the board on the 13th December and were released to share holders at the begining of January.

Rovers claimed all 3 points against Souness's Newcastle this afternoon, thanks to a Pedersen strike 16 minutes before the end of the game. The Norwegian midfielder was awarded the goal after he appeared to deflect Shefki Kuqi strike past Given into the Newcastle goal.

Following their 3-2 defeat of Stoke in the league on Saturday, Rovers youth team return to cup action on Wednesday night when they take on Derby County in the 4th Round of the FA Youth Cup at Ewood Park. kick off 7pm.

The next meeting of Blackburn Rovers Independent Supporters Association (BRISA) will be held on Thursday 19th January at The Waters Edge Public House, Blackburn. Start 7.45pm

Mike Bassett England Manager = Sam

Whilst I hope that Matt makes it, I have to agree with Paul. If Jansen cant get into the team ahead of Little and Lard at Rovers then things dont look to good.

Yesterday morning I was cursing the rescheduling of kick off times to accomodate sky, which to me is a major factor in the declining gates. However a greater influence in declining gates is the attitude of premiership managers who condone spoiling tactics and pre planned intimidation of players. Games of this nature will surely drive away the neutral supporter who wants an afternoons entertainment. Another thing - Ryan Nelsen is about to appear in front of the FA following a spur of the moment comment to the media about the ref after the Liverpool game. I wonder if the FA have anything to say about Sam. Did anyone else notice that Sam appeared to be glancing down and reading from a prepared script whilst complaing about Riley. This appears to me to be a pre meditated attack on the match official. In my opinion he is virtually saying that Riley is not neutral and dishonest.

Rovers 0 Bolton 0 In what turned out to be a frustrating game, where Bolton’s main intention was to intimidate Robbie Savage and play a spoiling game, that resulted in 6 yellow cards(Bolton 4 Rovers 2) and 1 red, Rovers failed to capitalise on the first half sending off Bolton’s Hidetoshi Nakata. The nearest Rovers got to scoring was a second half header by Emerton against the bar, whilst Bolton could have stolen all 3 points if substitute Ricardo Vaz hadn’t slipped in front of an open goal. The highlight of the afternoon was the appearance of Matt Jansen who came on as a substitute for Bolton for the final 12 minutes.

This afternoon’s game against local rivals Bolton, took a dramatic twist yesterday with the announcement that Matt Jansen had been signed by Bolton and was included in the Wanderers squad for today’s game. After failing to break through into the first team, Jansen was released, at his own request, by the club from his contract mid week and it looked as if Manchester City was the destination of the likable lad from Carlisle. However the news broke yesterday that Matt had joined the Wanderers on a short term contract until the end of the season and had gone straight into the squad to meet Rovers this afternoon. Rovers have a full squad available for the game, however with Bolton being without Jay-Jay Okocha, El-Hadji Diouf, Abdoulaye Faye and Radhi Jaidi who are away at the African Nations Cup competition, there is a strong possibility that Jansen will make his debut, which could contribute to a dramatic Matt Jansen, boys own script. Another Rover who packed his bags this week is former club captain Gary Flitcroft, who has joined Rovers old boys Craig Short and Keith Gillespie at Championship side Sheffield United on an 18 months contract. Meanwhile youngsters, Andy Taylor has joined QPR on a 3 month loan and Keith Barker has joined Belgian club Cercle Brugge until the end of the season.

Here we go again, another gate debate. Reason for low gate. 1. Gulf between Premiership and Championship 2. Magic of the cup gone. 3. Cost. 4. Other commitments On this occation I would suggest all of the first 3 reasons contributed towards the low gate, in particular cost, bearing in mind the close proximety of home fixtures against, Portsmouth, Man Utd and Bolton just after the Christmas expenditure. Hats off to Rovers for reducing the price for this game and kids for a quid on Monday, but for the average fan on the minimum wage, with a family to support, knowing that his next pay cheque wont be until the end of the month, which game is going to be his priority in watching.

Rovers made it through to the next round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win against QPR this afternoon, with goals from Todd and Bellamy (2). 19 year old Sergio Peter making his first team debut was involved with all 3 goals and was voted the Peter Jackson Man of the Match.

Peters makes debut this afternoon

Should Sam go, could it be due to nature of the game today, where it is run by the media and the so called big clubs. Maybe Sam wants a final pay day before he retires from management and becomes another tv pundit.

One transfer that was completed this week, involved one half of the SAS, when Chris Sutton moved to the strikers grave yard in Birmingham, from Celtic.

Now that the transfer window has opened speculation has increased on various football message boards and gossip columns linking players and clubs. Whilst speculation is the bread and butter of the sports columnists, since the arrival of Mark Hughes, apart from the protracted transfer of Robbie Savage, any dealings by the Rovers has resembled an SAS undercover operation, with any transfers deals being revealed at a press conference as the target signed on the dotted line. Currently the certain media sources are linking Rovers with a loan arrangement for Real Madrid’s 23 year old central defender Alvaro Mejia. With the defenders first team opportunities limited at the Bernabau he is considering a move to the premiership and he is being reported to have said. “England is a country that I like and the atmosphere that they have in stadiums is magnificent. I have spoken with Beckham and he made me excited about playing there if the offer becomes more concrete. “I am only concerned with playing and to show that I am worthy of playing football outside of Real Madrid. I am not scared to play in a foreign league because I am someone who likes challenges.” Other media speculation involving Rovers revolves around Gary Flitcroft, who is being reported to be on his way to join promotion chasing Championship team Sheffield United to team up with former Rovers team mate Craig Short. Rovers board are expected to approve Matt Jansen’s request to be released from his contract next Tuesday, after Mark Hughes gave the green light, stating. "Matt is a good player but what he needs is a run of first-team games and at the moment I can't give him that. His best chance of that is probably to go elsewhere," "Nobody has wanted Matt to succeed more than myself but it may not be that Matt can further his career playing for Blackburn Rovers." Meanwhile young striker Matt Derbyshire has returned to Ewood from his loan period at Plymouth after impressing Argyle fans with his enthusiasm, quick-thinking and work-rate. Unfortunately for Matt his opportunities at Plymouth were limited following the appointment of Tony Pullis as manager after the departure of manager Bobby Williamson.

Rovers v Portsmouth Monday 2nd January. kick off 7.35pm On the face of it, tomorrow nights game at Ewood could be an entertaining match, with both clubs striving to improve their league position. Rovers play their first of four home game tomorrow night, hoping to continue the form that has given them three consecutive away wins, that has moved them into the top half of the league. Whilst visitors Portsmouth, in their current position, need a victory in order to move them out of the bottom three. Rovers will have midfielder Tugay available after his one match suspension, however after Reid’s performance against Wigan he may have to settle for a place on the bench. For tomorrow nights game, Rovers are operating the "Kids for a Quid" scheme. Click Here for Match Preview.

Should Jansen leave - then I shall forward a copy of this topic to Matt. However as a matter of respect, any abusive comments will be deleted.

Once in a while, at every football club a player becomes a legend, a hero to the supporters. A decade ago for Rovers supporters, names such as Hendry, Shearer, Sutton, Flowers roll off the tongue, before a new generation of heroes arrived at Ewood Park, in the form of Duff, Dunn and Jansen. If press reports today are true, then the last of those three heroes, Matt Jansen, has played his last game for the club. Matt Jansen, is reported by various media sources as wanting to try and resurrect his career and is quoted by the Sunday Times as saying: "This is the hardest - and yet probably the most sensible - decision I have ever made. "I am not a troublemaker and I do not kick up a stink if I am not in the team but enough is enough." "I love the club but what was happening was tearing me apart. "I have worked hard and put in some of my best training sessions but it is like I am invisible and no-one is watching. "I respect manager Mark Hughes' decisions but I want to be playing." One thing is for sure, should Matt leave the club, he will remain the hero of the Blackburn End and will go down in Rovers folklore as a legend along side the likes of Simon Garner. Members Views

Wigan were made to eat humble pie as Rovers saw out the old year on a high, with goals from Pedersen, Reid and Bellamy to give them a 3-0 win over Wigan at the JJB Stadium this afternoon. Pedersen's first half volley gave Rovers the lead, before a Reid's thunderbolt shot from the edge of the box in the 53 minute made it 2-0. Rovers who had dominated the game made sure of all three points when substitute Craig Bellamy made it 3-0, 6 minutes before the final whistle.

mpg yessssssssss. 0-1

TEAM NEWS

Dickov, Neill and Pedersen return for Rovers against Wigan, whilst Reid replaces the suspended Tugay in midfield. Rovers. Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley, Reid, Savage, Pedersen, Dickov, Kuqi. Subs, Bellamy Emerton, Thompson, Mokoena and Enkelman. Wigan. Pollitt, Chimbonda, Jackson, Camara, McCulloch, Kavanagh, De Zeeuw, Teale, Bullard, Baines, Roberts. Subs. Filan, Henchoz, Wright, Francis, Connolly.

Hughes Plans Tugay Talks in the New Year - LET

Rovers should have sound vocal support this afternoon after selling their full allocation of 5000 tickets for the game against Wigan at the JJB Stadium. Although Tugay will miss the game, due to suspension and Todd is doubtful due to injury Mark Hughes will have Lucas Neill and Dickov, back after being suspended for the Boro game. When most people think of Wigan, they think of rugby. But over the past year it is the blue side of Wigan that has been receiving all the media attention! The other team from the JJB had realised Dave Whelan’s dream of seeing Wigan Athletic in the Premiership – just ten years after buying them as a third division club. Continued - CLICK HERE

Tom Finn is investigating the theory that they have been stealing the undersoil heating system, to warm up their dreys, or is it drays.......sod it....their nests.