Peter White speaks to an Ewood Park stalwart

JIM Furnell has finally rung down the curtain on his 17-year stint at Ewood Park and admitted - the timing of the change is probably right.

Furnell, who turned 60 last year, has now agreed an early retirement package after giving Blackburn Rovers outstanding service and playing a huge role in re-establishing their now-flourishing youth set-up.

But fans are still likely to see him around Brockhall or Ewood, as he retains a strong interest in Rovers' fortunes.

"I have mixed feelings really. But I am still welcome around the place so the links have not been completely severed," said Furnell, who first came to Blackburn as reserve team coach with Bobby Saxton in 1981.

"I appreciate it is all changing and I am not getting any younger.

"The time was probably right. It was a bit sudden but Bobby (Downes) has been all right with me and the gaffer, Tony and Faz have been supportive.

"Bobby was brought in to oversee all the youth development and take it into the next century and with the new academies being set up it's a long-term job.

"It is going to be a very time-consuming job as well, and it's a question of continuity for the club at a time when massive changes are going to be seen over the coming years.

"Maybe I could have stayed until the end of my contract in a couple of years time but then Bobby would have had to start again from scratch. So in that respect I can understand the club's point of view as they have to look to the long term.

"It has changed a lot already, it's a seven-days a week job now. Weekends are not your own, the hours are very long and it can be very demanding and very tiring. "The youth side of the game is getting bigger and bigger, it is going to be massive and will really be like a club within a club.

"But I have no regrets and I think the quality of the lads who are here and coming through is good.

"They won't all make it, we know that when we take them on. If you get a couple through a year you are doing well."

Furnell has seen many of his youngsters go on to earn a good living from the game and felt a particular sense of pride when players such as Jason Wilcox went on to win a full England cap and David May turned out in the Champions League for Manchester United.

Simon Barker, Mark Patterson, Franz Carr, Micky Salmon, Lenny Johnrose, Peter Thorne etc, are just a few to have come under his capable scrutiny.

Nowadays, thanks to being in the Premiership, Furnell admits the club are able to attract a higher-class of young player, though stresses that is no disrespect to the others.

He could stay in the game in some capacity but added: "At the moment I'm quite happy. I've had a couple of semi-offers if you will but I am not jumping anywhere.

"I wouldn't go full time because the job has to be done right and it's a seven-day week, nights as well.

"There's no hard feelings, no animosity. I've had a good innings, 17 years and something to look back on and I wish the club every success."

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