A BUSINESSMAN is trying to recreate Liverpool FC's famous Kop at Ewood Park and help shoot Blackburn Rovers to Champions League qualification.

Simon Yates, managing director of The Big Label, formerly QS Discount, has bought 5,000 blue and red scarves to give away to customers.

Mr Yates decided to shell out £12,500 on the merchandise after attending at a recent game at Ewood Park when he said the atmosphere was flat.

He hopes the scarves will improve the atmosphere at Ewood Park and get more people to attend home games to cheer on Rovers' push for Europe.

He said: "I have been going to Blackburn games since about 1993 and I was at a game recently when the attendance was low.

"I was sitting there thinking how the atmosphere could be improved and came up with the idea to give away scarves.

"The aim is to get people behind the team and wave their scarves at games.

"I always see the Kop end at Liverpool and there are thousands of people there swaying from side to side waving their scarves.

"The atmosphere is amazing and that is what I want to see at Blackburn."

Currently Rovers are sixth in the Premier League - the final spot to qualify for the Uefa Cup - with 24 points from 11 games.

Fourth-placed Chelsea occupy the final Champions League place and are just two points in front having played one game more.

As part of a drive to get more fans through the turnstiles Rovers slashed ticket prices for this season.

The move seems to be paying off so far and after six league games at Ewood the average attendance is 23,346 up nearly 10 per cent on last season's average of 21,275.

Last Saturday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool attracted the highest gate of the season of 30,033.

The Big Label, formerly QS Discount, sells clothing and footwear and has being in Blackburn for 15 years.

The scarves will be given away to customers who make a purchase at the store at the Peel Centre, Lower Audley Street, Blackburn.

Mr Yates, a commercial and residential property business partner of former Rovers captain Gary Flitcroft, said he was confident the team would qualify for Europe next season.

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers added: "We know nothing about this but it would seem to echo sounds from the club linked with the low price initiative and general move to increase attendances and interest in the team and atmospheres on matchdays."