THERE have been two startling and far-reaching transformations at Blackburn Rovers in recent months.

Roy Hodgson was sacked and the club has returned as a major force in the transfer market.

And Tim Sherwood has been instrumental in both through his candid public stance last year.

While conscious of the fact that I was initially uneasy about the timing of Hodgson's sacking, subsequent events would suggest that Sherwood deserves credit for forcing the managerial issue.

But it now appears that the Ewood skipper has been a victim of his own honesty.

For Sherwood is not the type of player to shirk responsibilities, either on and off the field.

Personally, I do not feel the team should be without his inspirational leadership and commitment during their fight against relegation.

It is the very fact that the club is struggling that prompted the whole sorry saga.

Sherwood, rightly or wrongly, questioned the club's ambition and the methods of Hodgson.

The club evidently agreed to an extent about Hodgson, that his style of management was simply not working.

Sherwood also felt that Rovers were not offering enough in wages when attempting to attract new players.

The club always insisted that it was amongst the top five or six payers in the Premier League.

And there were strong denials that money was a factor in losing the chance to sign Dion Dublin. It is as easy as spotting a David Ginola dive to understand why modern players receive so little sympathy when asking for improved terms.

Yet show me one worker in any industry that does not look after number one and strive for the best possible deal.

Rovers, however, appear to have grasped the nettle with Sherwood, who does not want to leave Blackburn Rovers.

But critics would say that those who live by the sword must also die by it.

The fact that Sherwood's sword has often been wielded by the irresponsible Eric Hall in clumsily trying to cut a better deal is something the player might regret with hindsight.

The player denies that Hall is his agent but merely a personal friend.

The fact remains, though, that Sherwood was offered a better deal by Rovers.

And the club has easily beaten off fierce opposition for the signatures of Ashley Ward, Keith Gillespie and Matt Jansen.

So - again - it would appear that the Ewood hierarchy has taken some of Sherwood's observations on board.

Both sides confess that there was no major gulf in the figures discussed.

It would therefore seem a travesty that such a solid and respected club asset is destined for the door.

There is, of course, the possibility that Brian Kidd has decided that a protracted saga might prove too unsettling for the rest of the squad.

If that is the case, the first major test of Kidd's mettle will be to show that he can successfully fill the Sherwood void.

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

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