FORMER Blackburn hero Glenn Keeley is returning to the local scene as he bids to help turn around the fortunes of Colne.

The defender, now 46, has been called into action by new Holt House boss John Lister, who works with the former Rovers ace at the Lancashire FA.

"I've signed Glenn as I'm hoping he'll help out on the pitch but also off it as he'll bring in new ideas on the coaching side," said Lister of the former Rovers player who spent 11 seasons at Ewood Park and was part of the team which won the Full Members Cup in 1987 before moving into non league with Chorley and Clitheroe.

"A high profile name may also increase the gate and help attract more players to Colne. We're just hoping signing him will be a boost all round.

"I don't know if he'll make his debut at Bacup this weekend though because of work commitments," added the Colne chief.

It's been a tricky start to his first major management job for Lister, 34, who used to work at Burnley School of Excellence and also runs his own football coaching business. He took over from Denzil Hart in the Holt House hot seat last month.

The North West Counties Division Two side have lost eight of their nine games. "It will be tough but I am relishing the challenge and we hope to kick start the season tomorrow."

Lister has added John Ackerley, a right full back from Mould, to tighten up a leaky defence and snapped up midfielder Anthony Woodiery from Accrington.

And he's hoping to strengthen through the ranks.

"We have a reserve and youth team here and I'm hoping to develop this and bring players through and not use the usual quick fix measure of signing players."

One player Lister will be watching though tomorrow is Bacup striker Scott Gilchrist who he knew from his days at Turf Moor and was just pipped to signing him by Boro boss Brent Peters.

"I was hoping to sign him but Bacup got there first," moaned the Colne chief.

Bacup have also had a bit of a mixed season so far although an unbeaten run of three games was only broken by promotion chasing Blackpool Mechanics midweek, although Peters felt the 3-2 scoreline was an injustice.

"We should have won. I felt it was daylight robbery. We had a good goal disallowed and that would have put us 3-0 up .

"But we're hoping to bounce back against Colne. They've a new manager and the players will want to prove themselves to him.

"Some Blackburn fans might boost the gate by coming to see Glenn Keeley. He was a great player in his time but he won't scare us."

Stuart Farnell took a slight knock but should be back, Karl Stanley is 50-50 after knee ligament damage and Gilchrist should be okay for the West View side.