MORE and more players and managers are appearing in the Press rooms of Premiership clubs.

At Leeds on Monday, Birmingham boss Trevor Francis, ex-Liverpool star Mark Lawrenson and former Ewood hero David Speedie were all engaged on media work.

Ex-player and manager John McGrath is a regular at Rovers games, so too is Jimmy Armfield and Leighton James. All three are involved in radio work.

THERE are some tickets still available for next Saturday's game at Arsenal (3pm), but only on restricted sale.

Supporters with stubs from either the Liverpool or Chelsea away games can purchase one Arsenal ticket per stub. Price is £13, no concessions.

IT'S crunch time for the Ewood youngsters next Thursday night (kick-off 7-30pm).

Trailing 2-1 to Crystal Palace from Thursday's FA Youth Cup semi-final first leg, Rovers hope that home advantage and the backing of a good crowd will help them to make it through.

The game is on a knife edge and the youngsters would appreciate all the support they can get. The Jack Walker Stand will be open and it's all pay on the night, admission £3. Leeds lead Luton 2-1 in the other semi-final, with the Elland Road leg to come next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Rovers' long-awaited Lancashire FA Youth Cup semi-final date and opponents have now been settled.

They will meet Everton at Ewood on Wednesday, April 23 (7pm).

NO Pontin's League fixture is scheduled for next week. It should have been Everton away but Tuesday's game has now been switched to Saturday, April 26, at Goodison (2pm).

The Reserves have the best defensive record in the Premier Division, but don't score many goals either. Niklas Gudmundsson, with five of their 23 goals, is top marksman, even though he is on loan to Ipswich at the moment.

Second-placed Rovers have only four games left and two of them, still to be arranged, are against title favourites Manchester United.

TICKETS for the home game against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, April 22 (7-45pm) are currently on open sale, along with seats for the twice-postponed clash with Middlesbrough. That game will now be staged at Ewood in the final week of the season on Thursday, May 8 (7-45pm). Normal match prices apply.

FROM Monday, tickets for the last away game of the season, at Southampton on Saturday, May 3 (3pm), will be on open sale. Price is £17, no concessions.

LATEST Double Your Money Club £500 winner is J Ainsworth (Darwen), number 019A. Anyone interested in taking a number in the draw should contact the lottery office at Ewood.

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