RAY Harford (pictured) seems unlikely to add to Garry Flitcroft's £3 million capture with another multi-million signing before next Thursday's transfer deadline.

But don't rule out entirely the chance of more transfer-market activity at a lesser level for the Blackburn Rovers boss.

The club are still concerned about the lack of experienced cover, because of long-term injury problems, in certain positions - left back being one of them.

And that could yet lead to a renewed bid for Grimsby Town's England under-21 defender Gary Croft.

I understand there was contact between the clubs some time ago but Grimsby won't encourage interest unless they could inflate the price.

With Rovers' situation not desperate, they will not be held to ransom by anybody.

They did well to negotiate a £3 million deal with Manchester City for Flitcroft, who was generally "valued" at a much higher fee.

In today's market, they seem to have clinched a good deal for a 23-year-old who was due to complete the formalities of his transfer this afternoon.

Flitcroft, a former England under-21 star, described himself as "very impressed" with Harford's ambitions for the club, which he said matched his own.

The player wants to win trophies and also believes he will have a better chance of gaining England recognition at Ewood. There is also a possibility, before the deadline, of players moving out. Though I doubt there will be any major departures until the end of the season.

A report today stated that Matty Holmes was about to join Portsmouth in a £600,000 deal.

But Fratton Park contacts were surprised by the story. Midfield is one area where Pompey, apparently, have a glut of players.

Moves of that kind, however, must be a possibility if other clubs are interested in some of the players who have been unable to hold down a regular first team spot at Ewood.

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer is in the running to retain his player of the year award when the Professional Footballers' Association hold their annual awards dinner in London on Sunday.

Shearer, the PFA's number one choice, is one of six men short-listed for the prize the players vote for themselves.

The others challenging him are Robbie Fowler, Steve Stone and Newcastle trio David Ginola, Peter Beardsley and Les Ferdinand.

Rovers had a record six players in last season's PFA representative team but they will not feature as strongly this time.

Shearer and colleagues such as Tim Flowers and Colin Hendry, however, could still be honoured by their fellow professionals.

Tomorrow, Rovers B team aim to take another big step to the Lancashire League Second Division title against rivals Manchester City at Brockhall. The A team visit Burnley.

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