The Glenn Keeley column
GRAEME Souness couldn't have sent a clearer message to Andy Todd and Dwight Yorke.
Leaving them at Brockhall while the rest of the squad goes on tour to Germany is all the evidence anyone needs to realise that the duo are no longer part of the manager's plans.
The situation looks irreparable. And, if you ask me, the sooner they make alternative plans to resume their footballing careers, the better.
They might say they're not bothered about moving on as long as they're picking up their money, or they could take the decision to move on and start looking for another club - getting their agents to spread the word about their availability.
To be honest, I'm surprised Dwight Yorke hasn't got a transfer because I thought it would be important to him to play first team football. But, then again, maybe the idea of taking a drop in wages doesn't appeal to him because I can imagine there aren't many clubs who can match what he's on.
Missing vast chunks of pre-season won't do those players any favours though, and I speak from experience.
I was once kept out of Rovers' pre-season because of a dispute over my wages in the 80s, when Bobby Saxton was the manager.
That's why I ended up going to Everton when I did. But by the time it all got sorted and it came to playing my first game, I hadn't had a run-out since May.
That's six months without playing, and when you haven't had a game for six months it can make things difficult.
It's bad enough when you've only missed the pre-season programme in terms of match fitness. But one man who doesn't appear to have that option is Andy Cole.
Given the choice, I'd much rather be without Yorke than Cole. But the relationship breakdown between the striker and manager Graeme Souness looks irreparable.
You cannot continue to work in those conditions, and so decisions must be made to do what's right for the club.
Fulham have shown an interest, and if Cole does leave Ewood to team up with Chris Coleman then so be it but I thought he would do better, as a player, without Yorke around.
They might be pals off the pitch but as players I don't think they are a good pair. In fact, that partnership has never worked for them at Ewood in the slightest.
You only have to look to the end of last season to see that Cole can more than cope without Yorke. Jolted by the emergence of Jon Stead, his work-rate was up, he looked sharper and livlier and he grabbed the bull by the horns when he realised he had something to prove.
Perhaps Cole's friendship with Yorke is the reason behind his downfall with Souness.
But with Stead, Gallagher, Jansen and now Dickov battling for a place up front, maybe it's time for the former Manchester United duo to move on so all parties can enjoy a fresh start.
