NATHAN Blake has revealed that he was the subject of a racist death threat during his time at Blackburn Rovers.

Blake played for Rovers between 1998 and 2001 but received a threat in a package after withdrawing from a Wales squad.

The threat included a picture of Jill Dando, the BBC presenter murdered in 1999.

“Inside were some nuts and also some abusive writing,” Blake said of the package.

“But inside also was a picture of Jill Dando with a picture of a gun with a bullet going towards her head.

“Underneath was written, ‘You’re next’.

“The club captain wanted me to take it to the police.

“But you tend to chuck these things away and move on.

“That was just one of numerous (racist) things that happened to me in my career.”

Blake, who turned 40 yesterday, earned 29 caps for Wales and also played up front for Cardiff and Bolton during his career.

But he felt real frustration over the treatment from some supporters on the international stage.

“The racial element – I don’t think people quite understand the nerve that touches because of the history involved,” he said.

“I had made various complaints and pulled out of squads.

“It had been well publicised and that’s when I received the parcel.”