ACCRINGTON Stanley manager James Beattie enjoys regular contact with both Gary Bowyer and Sean Dyche, but he admits his allegiance will be firmly with old club Blackburn Rovers tomorrow.

Beattie started his career at Rovers after supporting the club as a boy, although he never got the opportunity to play in an East Lancashire derby.

The Stanley boss said: “I speak to both Sean and Gary on a regular basis trying to get any equipment or players out of them that I can, or any money that they’ve got going spare!

“They’ve been great, they’ve been very supportive.

“My bias is always going to be towards Blackburn, being a Blackburn lad.

“I went there when I was seven to my first game and I had a season ticket for a number of years.

“Then I was lucky enough to pull the blue and white shirt on and make my debut when I was 18.

“I played in a lot of derbies in my career and got my fair bit of stick a couple of weeks ago at Portsmouth because I played in a couple of derbies for Southampton and scored.

“I didn’t manage to play in this derby, because they weren’t playing in the same league then, but it’s a great rivalry.

“I know a lad we see often see down here, David Dunn, always looks forward to them.”