must fix that Alan nearly crashed rushing home from the offy!

Sky Sports

Hughes confirmed as manager 20.20 on 5 Live BBC Link not much in their statement

twas your post that was reported

Blackburn Rovers have been granted permission to talk to Mark Hughes, the Welsh national manger, with a view to Sparky filling the vacant manager's post at Ewood Park. In a statement 3.50pm today the Football Association of Wales announced they had received an approach from Blackburn and would allow Hughes to speak with the club. Click here for the fans reaction The FAW have confirmed Hughes will continue as Welsh manager until the current phase of the World Cup qualifyers is complete.

Talksport; Stream it here or if you're in the office with a tranny 1089 or 1053 AM

Prior to Hughes appointment Wales played N.Ireland in fron t of 5 - 6000, last week 63,000+ saw the WC qualifyer

We've got 90 plus pages on this already.

Don't get me wrong - I do believe you and BRSCN! Cheers! Bjarte = PennyDuff wrote the story First this really intelligent young man from Norway is breaking the news that Morten Gamst Pedersen had signed a 4year deal with Blackburn Rovers, and now another Norwegian makes the official announcement that Mark Hughes is our new manager! (All this while the people living a block from Ewood don't have a clue ) Thats two in a row for the norwegians! Personally I wouldn't doubt Bjarte's belief this story is true BUT there is evidence to suggest it's unlikely: 1. Dennis Roach was on BBC Five Live at 4.00pm yesterday issuing a "come and get me" plea on Hughes's behalf http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ers/3655384.stm 2. The above clearly indicated Rovers had NOT spoken to the FAW, Roach or, crucially, Hughes. 3. If he signed at 8.30pm - just 4 hours later - it would suggest that: Rovers made an illegal approach to Hughes and this is now a cover up operation Rovers made a decision to employ Hughes WITHOUT interviewiing him - unlikely Hughes is not the first choice and JW is moving rapidly to make progress If Roach's statement at 4.00pm is accurate and we gave Hughes a job four hours later it worries the life out of me about the competency of our board.

The Observer reported Keegan has put both his Cheshire appartments up for sale!! Two - speechless!! Presumably it's to confuse angry fans?

Phew!

From the South Wales Echo: Sources in the North East of England are convinced Premiership side Blackburn I just hope that's a typo............

I've been consoling myself with the thought that no serious manager, and I think we have to acknowledge Souness is a serious manager, would deliberatley surround himself with a crap squad. I find it difficult to see much talent in the team but I believe they are seriously demoralised and not able to show their true worth. Clearly much has happened at Rovers in the last 12 months. We know very little of what has really happened in the dressing room. These players now need a new manager to come in, give them a cuddle, reassure them and build their collective confidence. Then it's got to be onward and upwards Rovers. cos it can't get much worse.

From the Sunday Mirror article - shows how up to the moment the Mirror is.

If that's true then Mark Hughes shouldn't be considered, there seems little point in appointing a manager who has not applied for the job. While I would welcome Hughes to Ewood his current good standing is based on little more than he's a decent man, who has improved a very poor Welsh team. If Sparky is interested fine and dandy, but if not the board shouldn't chase him. Personally I'm in favour of Strachan - young, motivated, proven and no contractual baggage. Just do not give me Hoddle, Reid, Venables, Houllier, Graham.

I feel better already thanks bob What chance a few of our exciting younger players will be called into action; Gallagher, Dann (at Colchester?), McEveley, Douglas. PS - is it true that Alex Bruce is Steve Bruce's son?

Bums on seats is what counts and the paying public started to turn away from Souness. When you can't sell out against Manchester United..........????? Very accurate assessment of what would never be publicly admitted by the club.

I'm happy to wait and see who JW and the board decide is right for Rovers....except I shall have a real problem supporting Glenn Hoddle if he were ever to come to Ewod Park. I'd just like to make that clear to the Rovers from the start!

Rovers have confirmed Alan Murrya, Phil Boersma and Dean Saunders will all follow Souness to Newcastle.

Thanks stuwilky............think I'll leave my wallet in my pocket.......nothing new there

The teamtalk quotes are from JW's Five Live interview this morning. He sounded in very good form and immediatley brought a smile to my face. We've lost our manager and I feel confident in the future, a big contrast to the reports coming out of Newcastle independent sites and their views on Freddie Shepherd. Williams is in control and will steer us in the right direction

As my gambling habits focus on an occassional Grand National office sweepstake and a raffle ticket at the cricket club annual prize night....................could someone please explain how Betfair works? I don't see any odds that I recognise in the traditional sense........2/1 etc It would be good to be able to keep up with this!

If you search the Newcastle Independent sites there is a lot more alluding to this subject. The link I posted last night seems to be in the same area, takes a bit of reading though; Paul

It's not quite as simple as that. Alan75 works very hard to make sure our news stories are picked up by Newsnow. The stories have to be quite carefully constructed to ensure they are picked up.