JACK Walker’s statue standing proudly outside Ewood Park is proof alone of the esteem the former chairman will always be held in in East Lancashire.

From taking an unfashionable Second Division club to the Premier League trophy in the space of just four years to building a world class arena to parade their talents, you won’t find many people in Blackburn, or even in football, with a bad word to say about a true Rovers legend.

One of his biggest admirers though insists even the late ‘Uncle Jack’ was not flawless and believes his reaction to the 1995 Premier League triumph cost Rovers the opportunity of even further success – thus enhancing an already memorable legacy.

Tim Sherwood is one of a select band of captains to have lifted the Premier League trophy, when he led Rovers to the title in 1995, but he can’t help reflecting on what else might have been.

French stars Zinedine Zidane and Christophe Dugarry were just two of the world class players manager Ray Harford had lined up to build on their stunning title triumph – only for Walker to reply “Why do you want to sign Zidane, when we have Tim Sherwood”.

Flattering? Maybe. But as he continues to cut his teeth in the world of coaching, Sherwood can’t help but feel it was then that Rovers missed a huge opportunity.

“Jack was obviously a good judge of player,” he said. “Seriously though, it is nice to hear someone compare you to someone like Zidane, even if he wasn’t as well known then, but he was the sort of player we had to be looking to sign then.

“The unfortunate thing for Blackburn Rovers at the time was we did not put the foundations in place from when we won the league. We really should have built on that.

“I remember Dugarry and Zidane talking to Ray Harford and that was the time when we should have kept building and kept looking to improve. Instead we brought in fringe players.

“I think Jack Walker thought ‘we won it with the players we have already got, so we do not need to speculate’. He made very few mistakes but that was one, not bringing in better players to build up the squad.

“Being on the inside of the management side of things now, you realise you have to improve when the team is doing well. Look at Manchester United, they never rest on their laurels, they just continue to buy better and better players.”

As his former club continue to fight against relegation from the Premier League tomorrow though, with the visit of another old club Portsmouth, Sherwood is quick to emphasise the size of Rovers’ achievements in the mid 1990’s.

They remain one of only four clubs to have ever lifted the coveted prize, the only town club, and the former England midfielder insists it is a feat that could remain unparalleled in it’s significance.

He said: “Unless you get another Jack Walker, I really can’t see a club like Blackburn doing what they did again. It was an amazing achievement, one that gets more impressive as time goes on and you see how much the big teams dominate the title.

“It was not just a one season thing either. We put ourselves around and about that position for a few seasons and that is what you have to do.

“Look at Liverpool now. They look like they will miss out this season but the experience they have got from running Manchester United close will stand them in good stead for next time round. They will have a great chance next year.

“Blackburn Rovers are thought of fondly by a lot of people in football though because we won the title. What Jack Walker and Kenny Dalglish and the group of players did will never be forgotten.”

After spells at Norwich and Watford, Sherwood made more than 250 appearances for Blackburn Rovers between 1992 and 1999, before joining Spurs for £3million.

Four years later, he moved on again, this time to Portsmouth, who he helped achieve the Premier League status they have kept ever since.

Now, Pompey visit Ewood Park tomorrow with both clubs’ top flight status still in jeopardy but Sherwood is confident both of his former clubs will still be enjoying Premier League football next season.

He said: “I had great times at Blackburn. It was the club I spent most of my career at, so obviously I hope they stay up. I’m sure they will to be honest.

“It is the same with Portsmouth. I went there towards the end of my career and helped them win promotion, and they have stayed in the Premier League ever since.

“Both clubs have done fantastically and I think both of them are already probably safe. They probably have enough points already, although both know a result on Saturday would clinch it.

“There are teams in the league that are struggling badly at the moment. Paul Robinson probably paid of his transfer fee in that win against Wigan alone, that was a huge result for Blackburn.”

As for the future, a 40-year-old Sherwood has eyes on being a number one as he continues his apprenticeship under wily old fox Harry Redknapp at Spurs.

“I’m loving it,” he said. “One day I want to be a manager and hopefully the chance arises some time for me. At the moment I am just enjoying what we are doing at Tottenham.”