GRAEME Le Saux is heading for a showdown with Blackburn Rovers this summer, writes PETER WHITE.

Major talks will have to take place between the player and club, once the relegation scrap is settled, with the outcome deciding whether he starts next season in a Rovers shirt.

The England defender has left the fans to draw their own conclusions from his comments in recent weeks, when he has cast significant doubts over his Ewood future.

And now he has finally all but spelled out that unless Rovers can prove their ambitions match his own, he will want to be off at the end of the season.

It could then come down to just how firm the club are prepared to stand on the issue.

Le Saux seems determined to force it, even though he has two more years left on his contract - and despite the fact that Rovers rescued a career which seemed to be going nowhere with Chelsea.

Then they stood by him during his year-long battle against injury.

"A lot has changed since I signed my contract," said the 28-year-old.

"When you sign for a club you want to honour that contract and do as well as you can for that club - but you also want the club to fulfil your aspirations.

"I've had a small taste of success, and playing in this environment with England I would be devastated if I lost that through not having the right profile at my club.

"I'm an honest player and I don't think I'm saying anything wrong by speaking out. I want to get everything sorted out - and quickly." Roy Hodgson's arrival might make a difference, as Le Saux admitted: "I've spoken to Paul Ince about him and he's a fan of his. He's spoken of him as a European-style manager, he doesn't rule by fear. He's respectful of his players and looks at individuals rather than looking at us as all the same."

But the defender, set to win his 15th England cap against Georgia on Wednesday, seems to be losing patience.

"The injury is perhaps another thing which makes things more urgent," he said.

"If you feel you're in limbo or not in control of things, then you want to change it.

"I'm not driven purely by the money side of things. It's not a case that if they offer me more money I'll suddenly be happy again, or I'll stop thinking about these issues. "I don't want to go out of football saying I wish I had done this, or I wish I had done that'. I think you've got to try and make it happen as much as you can."

Stuart Ripley showed he is back in business with an excellent performance as Rovers Reserves won 4-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The victory over Everton, coupled with defeat for Manchester United, means that Rovers will take the Pontin's League Premier Division title if they win their last three games.

They take on Nottingham Forest at Ewood tonight (kick-off 7pm), followed by present leaders and favourites Manchester United away and at home on Thursday and Monday respectively.

Ripley opened the scoring on Saturday with a cracking left-foot shot after 20 minutes. The right winger caused Everton a lot of problems and second half goals followed from James Beattie, Craig Chisholm and Matty Holmes.

Everton scored a late consolation.

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