TIM Sherwood could well have played his last game for Blackburn Rovers, with all the signs pointing to the exit door for the Ewood skipper.

Neither Rovers nor the player have had any further significant comment to make but I believe that the only logical outcome to the present stalemate will be a move - probably to this afternoon's Ewood opponents Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of just over £4 million.

Although there is always the possibility of others, such as Aston Villa, stepping in.

Sherwood still has a long-term Ewood contract and either party could stick to the letter of the law.

But very good sources claim that a parting of the ways is now virtually inevitable, following this week's talks, and sooner rather than later.

The player has already had talks with Spurs.

And, as the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed last night, the club are now unlikely to stand in the way of a move.

In many ways, it is sad, reflecting the state of the game as a whole. Sherwood has insisted that he would prefer to stay with Rovers if the financial package was right, having had lengthy discussions to renegotiate the contract he signed only last year.

And the club, by the fact that they were willing to talk about another new deal, showed they wanted to keep him.

There is only a narrow gap between them, but it is a gap that seems unbridgeable.

Sherwood, who is suspended, was not expected at today's game but he would certainly be considering his options.

And, with the way things have developed, it would be a surprise if he was still a Rovers player by this time next week.

Remarkably, last night's annual meeting of shareholders failed to produce a single question about the subject.

Other topics were discussed afer the formal business of the meeting.

But Sherwood's name was not mentioned once!

Top of the list was the question of cut-price admission tickets, with one shareholder asking about the possibility of the Football Task Force recommending a self-regulating body to govern seat prices and the cost of replica kits.

Ewood chief executive John Williams said that it was ironic the Task Force was expected to recommend an allocation of cheap tickets, as Rovers had done with their controversial "Top Tenner" innovation.

But he was also quick to stress that they were anxious to keep season-ticket holders happy.

"I believe the customer is king and I do not like the letters that complain about season-ticket prices," he said.

"Our job is to introduce new people at the bottom of the range, nevertheless it is causing problems for season-ticket holders. "We are listening. We can't please all the people all of the time but we do not want to alienate supporters.

"It is a significant dilemma for us. We are trying to fill the ground but there is a balance to be struck."

The proposed redevelopment of the Walkersteel Stand is still ongoing with the club looking to expand their fan base by exploring other areas, especially in the M6 corridor North of the town.

"It is absolutely crucial in the board's view that the company grows its turnover and one of the ways we can do that is to increase our support," said Williams.

"There is a hinterland and there are areas we can go."

He explained that costings were currently being made and commercial studies undertaken to examine the feasibility of rebuilding to increase the capacity to 36,000 with a hotel and exhibition hall included.

But the club did not want to be faced with banks of empty seats.

Other subjects covered were salary-capping in the Premiership, which seemed unrealistic, and traffic problems which were an ongoing subject for discussion with the police.

Extra outlets for Rovers merchandise are also a possibility, not only with the new RoverStore but also in other towns.

George Root and Keith Lee were re-elected directors, as were the chief executive and secretary Tom Finn, both elected during the year in question.

As we reported in later editions of last night's Evening Telegraph, Kevin Gallacher has had a setback with his calf injury and there are no prospects of an immediate return for the Scot.

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