FOR A so-called fan of 45 years to accuse Jack Walker of a lack of ambition (Sports Letter, July 18), shows panic and a lack of judgment.

For 26 years I watched Rovers play in the old Second and Third Divisions - a proud town club trying to compete with the financial might of big city clubs, often selling one or two of their best players each year to survive.

Then came Jack Walker: Promotion, million-pound players, a fantastic stadium, a championship and a multi-million training complex.

Unlike many "floated clubs" Uncle Jack will probably never make a profit out of the fans. Indeed, he invested in his home town club incredible amounts and inspired the footballing quote: "What this club needs is a Jack Walker."

Our Championship was worth a hundred of Manchester United's. Why? Because we never expected it and we are true local fans, not glory babes. Not only were we playing the Liverpools, Arsenals and Uniteds, but we were beating them, which was more than we would ever have dreamed of.

If we had gone up in the 80s, we would have probably been relegated because we all now understand the financial backing required to survive at the top.

But all Uncle Jack's investment was also backed with sound business sense. Young players who would increase in value would command high fees and older players only low fees.

Shearer cost £3 million and helped win the league, scored 30 goals for three years and then was sold for £15 million.

Shearer could have left the previous season, but Jack Walker got him to agree a new contract. Shearer has since stated that he had decided to turn down Manchester United and stay at Blackburn until the fatal triple whammy arrived - Newcastle, his home town club; Keegan, his hero; and John Hall with silly money. Because Jack Walker mixed good player relationships with business sense, we made the £12 million profit.

We must also not blame Uncle Jack regarding Dalglish. He did the same to Liverpool, remember.

The fact that Dalglish could sign those young players and then walk out on them when they needed him most in the Champions' League is not something I find easy to forgive.

Uncle Jack gave Harford a chance and there were no dissenting voices at the time. He then asked Tony Parkes to rescue us from a position of four points from 11 games - something which no other club had ever done. Well done, Tony.

Meanwhile, another top quality manager was being sought. Nothing can guarantee success, but up to now, Roy Hodgson looks and sounds the part.

He has also signed five internationals, all under 30 for only £6 million - financial input again mixed with business sense. Surely, that is a must for a town club - even one with Jack Walker - in the current climate of TV and sponsorship deals.

On the financial front though, if flotation is not an option, surely, the club could be like Rangers and look at other investors. Why, for instance, was Dave Whelan not courted on to the board instead of wasting his money in what will always be a rugby town at heart?

So our "45 years" fan says the 20,000 season ticket holders following the championship season will be down by half this year.

In that case, could I ask him and 10,000 others to do one thing - look at themselves in the mirror and ask this question: "When it really mattered, did my ambition match Jack Walker's?"

MR D POWER, The Meadows, Oswaldtwistle

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.