Blackburn Rovers won't just roll over and accept Lazio stealing Sven Goran Eriksson from under their noses.

Eriksson has continued to duck the issue, even when contacted earlier this week by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, and despite the continuing overwhelming speculation on his future.

But, tomorrow, there will be no hiding place as Sampdoria entertain Lazio's city rivals Roma, with a large contingent of Rome-based journalists expected to descend on Genoa.

The Swede's job prospects seem certain to be the prime topic of conversation.

And I can reveal that if Lazio and Eriksson do eventually link up either one, or both, could well have to face the consequences.

Rovers have, so far, refused to comment in detail on the speculation.

They insist "nothing has changed" on their part, even though we revealed earlier this week that people very close to Eriksson were adamant that he had undergone a change of mind and wanted to find a way out of his agreement. If that was the case, and nothing he has said since then has taken things any further - or done anything to allay the fears of Ewood supporters - my information is that Rovers would want, figuratively speaking, their pound of flesh.

Contracts, or legally-binding signed agreements, seem to have little real value in football.

For managers are in the same category as players in that it becomes pretty pointless for a club to keep an unsettled or unhappy one if he would rather be elsewhere.

The agreement Rovers have does, at least, give them some clout if they had to seek financial compensation or ask the football authorities to take action.

But it would be scant consolation and, in any case, the club continue to hope that they will get their man.

Unfortunately, nothing is being said by Eriksson at the moment to contradict the speculation coming from Italy.

His latest comments made the issue no clearer.

"I know it is disturbing a lot of people and I am very sorry about that. Personally I would like everything to be over," he said.

Otherwise, he refuses to comment, despite going on TV a couple of weeks ago and stressing he was looking forward to coming to England.

Much has happened since then and, with memories of the Alan Shearer saga still fresh, Rovers supporters are understandably concerned. I believe there could be developments soon but, with only non-committal comments coming from the man at the centre of this massive riddle, it clearly doesn't look hopeful from an Ewood point of view.

Already the papers are full of talk about who Rovers may turn to if Eriksson decides to stay in Italy.

One time target Roy Hodgson and Barcelona boss Bobby Robson are in the frame but so far Rovers haven't given up on getting Eriksson. And they have not made any approaches elsewhere at this stage.

YOUTH coach Alan Irvine is set to quit Blackburn Rovers to further his career.

Irvine, who has worked successfully with Ewood's vastly expanded youth scheme, hopes to move up the coaching ladder.

And he could well be a target for former Rovers boss Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle or Ray Harford at West Brom as both are thought to value him highly. He said he had no other job in mind at the moment but confirmed: "I have handed in my notice and I am waiting for the club to come back to me."

Irvine is expected to be with Rovers youngsters when they visit Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday.

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