THE biggest day in the soccer life of new Rovers signing Graham Coughlan almost turned to tragedy when his father was taken to hospital after a car crash in Ireland.

The accident happened as 20-year-old Graham, his father and Bray Wanderers manager Pat Devlin were on their way to Ewood.

Coughlan, who had been on previous training visits, was unaware the trip was to complete a record £100,000 transfer from Ireland.

Graham's father suffered eight stitches in a head wound and the group missed their morning flight to Blackpool. The original completion of the three-year deal was delayed until yesterday afternoon.

And the former storeman was still absorbing the move today.

He said: "Wait until my boss finds out!

"And my mum probably knows more about it than I do.

"I haven't had time to think about it yet but at the moment my ambition is to get home! The first thing I did when we got to Blackpool was ring the hospital to find out how dad was - but happily he's ok now."

Devlin, Rovers' chief scout in Ireland and a close friend of Kenny Dalglish, said Coughlan had made an impressive jump from junior side Cherry Orchard to League of Ireland side, Bray.

He said: "He was always a good player. We fine-tuned him at Bray and he was tried and tested severely and the team have been very successful in the last 12 games."

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