PAUL Lambert says former top-flight champions Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest will struggle to ‘kick on’ unless they put proper structures in place.

Rovers, the 1995 Premiership champions, tonight make their way to Forest, who won and defended the European Cup after winning the old First Division in 1978, for their final midweek match of the season.

Both clubs are out of form and down at the wrong end of the Championship table after starting the campaign under Financial Fair Play embargoes.

Rovers, unlike their opponents, have since had their embargo lifted and Lambert is hoping the club’s owners Venky’s will back him in the transfer market as well as appointing a ‘figurehead’ following the departure of managing director Derek Shaw.

“You are where you are for a reason,” said the Ewood Park chief, whose side will look to end a four-game winless run at the City Ground against a Forest team searching for their first victory in eight.

“Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers are two clubs with fantastic history attached to them but if it’s never fixed above, it’s always going to struggle.

“There’s some great clubs in the Championship when you look at it including ones who are in trouble financially. Until you get everything structurally right it’s never going to kick on. Forest are the same.

“I played under Martin O’Neill and John Robertson (at Celtic), who were fantastic players who played in that great Nottingham Forest side which won two European Cups back to back.

“And then here at Blackburn when Kenny (Dalglish) was at the helm, and (Alan) Shearer was the focal point, it was fantastic, absolutely brilliant.

“Nobody in their right mind could foresee what was going to happen to the two football clubs but that’s what’s happened.”

Lambert added: “Football clubs aren’t just a toy that you can play with. They’ve been here for years and years and for me it’s important it’s done professionally and it’s done right. It shouldn’t be done on a wing and a prayer.

“There’s too many people who come and watch us. The supporters have been brilliant since I’ve been here.”

It is understood Lambert agreed to take the Rovers job in November after being assured by Venky’s they would go for it next season.

But he insists he is in the dark over whether that remains the case and it is believed he has yet to have been given a budget for the 2016-17 campaign.

Lambert, whose former club Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League at the weekend, said: “The three clubs coming down will have a lot of wealth and they will try their utmost to get back up right away.

“Aston Villa have already gone and then it’s take your pick from Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich. It will be three big clubs. And the ones that don’t go up will spend big as well.

“You’re going to have to fight with them but to have that fight you need to be given a chance. And to be given a chance you’ve got to try and spend a bit of money.”