IN a shock move, Blackburn Rovers' star player -- Damien Duff -- has been transfered to the Premiership this week.

But Rovers fans can relax -- Duff has 'signed' for ZOOFootball FC, a new internet team comprising the best players in the Nationwide League.

Managed by Dave Bassett, ZOOFootball FC have replaced Watford in the Premiership and are now fighting it out among the big boys of English football -- all thanks to new website ZOOfootball.com and Sports Interactive's Championship Manager 3 computer game.

The idea started when ZOOFootball.com's editorial staff wondered what would happen if the Nationwide's top players were suddenly challenging as a team in the Premier League.

ZOOFootball joined forces with Sports Interactive, who programmed the details of the Nationwide XI into Championship Manager 3 and entered the team into this season's Premiership.

To give the exercise some credibility and ZooFootball FC Barnsley's Dave Bassett was appointed manager.

The 22-strong squad, as chosen by the website, is:

Richard Wright (Ipswich), Gary Rowett (Birmingham), Darren Barnard (Barnsley), David Challinor (Tranmere), Richard Rufus (Charlton), Damien Duff (Blackburn), Mark Kinsella (Charlton), Mark Kennedy (Man City), Sean Gregan (Preston), Adi Akinbiyi (Wolves), Marcus Stewart (Ipswich).

Reserves are: Roy Carroll (Wigan), Jeff Whitley (Man City), Neil Emblen (Wolves), Chris Coleman (Fulham), David Holdsworth (Birmingham), Craig Hignett (Barnsley), Lee Clark (Fulham), Matt Holland (Ipswich), John Robinson (Charlton), David Johnson (Ipswich), Marcus Bent (Sheffield United).

Find out how Bassett and his boys are getting on by logging on to www.zoofootball.com.

Results and match reports are available plus fans can vote for their own personal Nationwide XI teams.

WOLVES striker Adi Akinbiyi was the bookies favourite to fire the opening goal in today's promotion showdown at Molineux.

Akinbiyi, who has notched 16 goals so far this season, was quoted as an 11-2 shot according to Corals.

Wolves team-mates Michael Branch and George Ndah were joint-second favourites at 13-2.

While Rovers quartet Egil Ostenstad, Ashley Ward, Matt Jansen and Nathan Blake were all rated as 7-1 shots.

Wolves were 6/5 favourites to win overall, with Rovers 9/5 and the draw 11/5.

FANS have until next weekend to claim a place on the free coaches for Rovers' First Division clash at Grimsby on March 22.

The club are offering 1,000 fans free return travel to the game as a show of appreciation for their unswerving loyalty this season.

A fleet of up to 20 coaches will be provided.

Free places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and to claim a seat, fans must produce either an away travel coach ticket from any away game this season, a Supporters Association/Away Travel Club members card, or a valid season ticket.

The offer is open until Saturday, April 15, subject to availability.

On the day of the game itself coaches will leave Ewood at 11am.

Places can be booked at the Customer Services desk at the Rover the Moon store.

BLACKBURN Rovers Double Your Money winner was number 647, A Panaro.

The Rovers Return winners were: £750: 060174, Marian Payne, Lower Darwen; Swatch wrist watch: 065420; Mrs J West, Great Harwood; Autographed football: 064501; M Wild, Fleetwood.

ROVERS next reserve game is against Sunderland at Ewood on Tuesday, April 18.

TICKETS are now on sale for the home games against Charlton Athletic (April 24) and Portsmouth (April 15) as well as the away trip to Grimsby on April 22.

They can be purchased in the usual way either in person at the ticket office, by postal application or via the ticket hot-line (08080 10 10 10).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.