The Lancashire Telegraph is today urging the players of Blackburn Rovers to give every single ounce to the cause to keep the club in the Premier League.

Rovers are in a precarious position but there are four matches left and safety CAN be achieved.

The alternative hardly bears thinking about: a trapdoor which could possibly consign the club to years in the wilderness.

And that in turn would be deliver a massive body blow to the fans and, beyond that, to Blackburn, Darwen and the wider community.

This area needs top flight football.

East Lancashire is one of the most economically- challenged parts of the UK. Unemployment is above the regional average with the area usually figuring a long way down in the various deprivation indices.

The area needs a successful football team.

Relegation will undoubtedly fire a broadside at the local economy, not to mention lowering the whole profile of Blackburn.

Let’s get to the point; the people of this district are the salt of the earth.

They work hard for their families earning the kind of annual salaries that professional footballers spend in a single week.

Yes, the fans have vented their spleen at what they see (with great justification) as poor management on the part of the owners and the team manager.

But their ire has not really been aimed at the players, and it is the men on the pitch that our appeal goes out to today.

For much of the season the results have not been anywhere near good enough but it has usually been hard to accuse the players of a lack of effort – until last week when the team seemed to show an alarming lack of fight.

Today we say to those players – step up to the plate – and give everything to keep Rovers in this league.

Do it for the fans.

Do it for the Blackburn area.

Do it for proud tradition of a club graced by greats like Bryan Douglas, Ronnie Clayton and Alan Shearer.

Do it for your own professional pride.

There are some tough games ahead but you only have to look 25 miles south at Wigan who have recorded great results against Arsenal and Manchester United – not to mention your own performances at Old Trafford and Anfield – to know that survival is within reach.

It’s time to put any personal grievances with the club to one side and to ensure that whatever happens Blackburn Rovers don’t bow out of the Premier League with a whimper.

So again, we say: give everything in the four remaining matches and keep the dream alive.

A town, a community and a football club are relying on you.