BLACKBURN Rovers fans looking to watch their heroes play midweek games at their local in future will be bitterly disappointed.

Publicans in East Lancashire are furious after discovering they have lost the right to screen games outside Sky Sports' weekend line-ups.

Controversy has already greeted the signing of a new £595million deal between Sky and the Football League.

Rovers chief executive Steve Waggott has already told a fans forum that clubs were upset by the terms of the five-year contract, especially the red button access.

But landlords, who pay an average of £15,000 per year for a Sky subscription, have been told that the plug is being pulled on Championship coverage on licensed premises.

Craig Currie, who runs The Park, in Great Harwood, was left frustrated when, shortly before Rovers were due to play Wigan Athletic on Wednesday, he found his access had been blocked.

"There were around 30 customer who had come in especially to watch the match and they just ended up going home," said Craig.

"We have a massive following in Great Harwood, with Rovers and Clarets supporters, and we've shown the games all season. It seems as though they are still allowing access to private customers and we are losing out."

Craig says he has received calls from a number of other licensees in the area, who have also been angered by the shock move.

He has already approached Sky with his own possible solution to the impasse, which could see publicans paying £500 for the rights to watch midweek games for just one selected club, in his case Rovers.

A Sky Sports spokesman confirmed that, under the new deal, Sky Sports had the rights to stream Championship fixtures to residential customers.

"Those services will not be available in commercial premises," he added.

The Football League was unavailable for comment.