BLACKBURN ROVERS chairman Robert Coar has again insisted that Sven Goran Eriksson would take charge at Ewood Park in the summer it is a bold declaration which may prove to be more wishful thinking than statement of fact. Although the highly respected Swedish coach is scheduled to move to England once his contract with Sampdoria expires at the end of June, rumours abound that fre has decided to remain in Italy.
Indeed, earlier this week the president of Lazio, Sergio Cragnotti, said he was "one hundred per cent certain" that Eriksson would be moving to Rome, not Lancashire.
Eriksson himself further complicated the plot on Thursday when he said: "I cannot comment on the situation, but a general announcement will be made soon."
Coar clearly still believes that Eriksson's word is his bond. "All I can say is that nothing has changed. All I can state is the position as I see it," he said.
"To be honest, this is getting boring and irritating. All we are getting are the same rumours, but now on a daily basis," he added.
Coar was similarly adamant that Polish international striker Marek Citko would shortly join his club from Widzew Lodz in a £3 million deal.
"Yes, I have beard that Arsenal might be interested, but from the information I have received, Citko is looking forward to coming to Blackburn Rovers," said Coar. "We have agreed terms with his club and have applied for a work permit. The necessary paperwork is being processed and once we have received the permit everything can be concluded," he added.
Meanwhile, Walter Smith, the Glasgow Rangers manager, confirmed yesterday that he has a serious interest in the AS Roma midfielder Francesco Moriero.
Smith's assistant, Archie Knox, watched Moriero last weekend and the Ibrox club will continue to monitor him, according to the manager. Moriero (27), cost Roman £4 million from Cagliari three years ago, but his contract expires in the summer and Rangers could have him merely by satisfying his personal terms.
"Moriero plays wide on the right," said Smith, "and that's an area where we are short just now. The injuries to players like Trevor Steven and Stephen Wright have weakened us.
"The Italian was recommended, as many players are at this time of year, and we've decided to keep an eye on him. But any possible business would be some way off."
Smith will also be talking business with Aston Villa over the future of Rangers' left back, David Robertson. It is understood that Villa have already begun the negotiation process over the 28 year old defender, whose agreement at Ibrox ends in June.
The midlands club are believed to be very keen to have Robertson, a former international whose Scotland career is presently suspended because of a disagreement with the national coach, Craig Brown.
Robertson had claimed that he only wanted to be called into Brown's squad if he was certain to be played in matches. Brown, unsurprisingly, refused to give such a guarantee and, until Robertson is prepared to take his chances along with the others in any given squad, he will not be summoned.
Rangers would restore their seven point lead over Celtic by beating the Fife side, who lost their opening home match against the champions 5-2 on the second Saturday of the season.
Dundee United, currently the most consistent side in the Premier Division with eight straight wins which have taken them into clear third place, are at home to Hibernian, with changes to the line up who beat Celtic last week extremely unlikely.
