IT was the hastiest retreat since Dunkirk.

No sooner had Tony Parkes' men dodged the heavy artillery launched by Dave Challinor, than the Ewood boss had holed himself up in a bunker of play-off despair.

And it wasn't until he returned to the shelter of Brockhall, away from the Prenton front, that Parkes was able to reassess his forces' potential.

Of course Blackburn Rovers still had a chance of finishing in the top six.

Of course the dropped points at Tranmere and Ipswich had been lost battles, but not a lost war.

But, when Parkes first confessed that his side would struggle to make the play-offs, there were very few conscientious objectors.

In fact, with the possible exception of a couple of influential generals in the shapes of Jack Walker and John Williams, who would in all probability not have been too pleased at the timing of his white flag, Parkes was merely stating something that had become patently obvious to the rank and file.

Rovers will not, if the status quo persists, make the play-offs.

This is no reflection on Parkes who has been placed in an almost impossible position. It has to be remembered that, since Parkes had been in charge since the start of the season, his points return suggests they might have achieved their goal.

There are, though, a couple of straws still within clutching distance for the club.

The first, the search for added fire-power to an arsenal which is currently as explosive as an underwater firecracker, is under way. But, at this stage of the season and for a club in Rovers' position, this is a thankless task.

They can forget the Premiership. Of the players available and/or suitable, the likes of Tony Cottee, Noel Whelan, Andy Booth, Deon Burton, Dean Sturridge, Carl Cort and Robbie Blake, will not provide the club with the necessary lift.

Eidur Gudjohnsen looks to have genuine class, but is tainted by the double drawbacks of being a Scandinavian and at Bolton.

A more fruitful hunting ground, time permitting, would be Europe. There must be players, of stature and pedigree, who would jump at a loan spell pay day.

The likes of Inter's Roberto Baggio, Roberto Mancini at Lazio, or Rangers' Marco Negri, would fit that bill to greater or lesser degrees.

A second possible immediate remedy would also have longer term benefits.

It is widely acknowledged that Parkes's time as 'manager' was always going to be limited until the end of the season. If that was not intended to be the case, the club have done him a gross disservice by adding the proviso "until the end of the season" to his job title.

That being the case, an immediate new appointment would have the customary effect of producing the kind of instant turnaround of fortunes necessary for the club to have even the slightest hope of a play-off place.

But, accepting that those prospects are ever diminishing, any new manager would at least have the chance to weed out the gravy train passengers and build around the few remaining professionals and youth assets, so that a more strategic campaign can be properly launched for next season.

The credentials? The priority is to find a disciplinarian. He must have a track record (not necessarily in Division One). And he must have the stature with which to attract genuine quality again.

Hmmmmmmmmmm ... Graeme Souness is available.

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

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