FORMER Blackburn Rovers boss Don Mackay believes the club is facing its most important summer for 20 years and warns it is imperative not to rush into ‘panic signings’.

The 71-year-old Scot, now involved in scouting, insists there should be no concern over a lack of significant transfer activity around Ewood Park just yet after claiming ‘with great money comes great responsibility’.

With a cash pot to the tune of around £30million available to manager Steve Kean, Rovers look set to splash the cash in a record way under new owners Venky’s.

A host of top names have already been linked with moves to East Lancashire but, as some sections start to grow impatient at the lack of signings, Mackay believes Kean is right to be taking his time.

Mackay managed Rovers between 1987 and 1991 before being replaced by Kenny Dalglish as Jack Walker’s Rovers revolution got into full stride, ultimately leading them to the Premier League title.

He said: “This is a crucial summer for the club, probably the biggest since Jack Walker started rebuilding it back in the early 1990’s.

“This is the new owners’ chance to show the fans what they are all about. There is a lot of expectation around the place and they need to make sure they get it right.

“Blackburn Rovers have an inexperienced manager and inexperienced owners and I think they are right to take their time and make sure they are making the right moves. I am sure they are getting advice along the way.

“It does not matter in the slightest that they have not signed anybody yet. The worst thing anyone could do is rush into making signings and then finding out in September they have got the balance of the squad all wrong.

“Make the wrong move and suddenly they would have to spend another £30million to put it right in the next window. This is the first time for a long time the club have had money to spend and they need to spend it right.”

Rovers have shown an interest in bringing Spurs striker Robbie Keane to Ewood Park, having had an initial bid rejected, but are unlikely to offer the £5million currently being asked for his services.

Freiburg striker Papiss Cisse is another understood to be on Kean’s radar although, with no official bid yet gone in for the Senegalese striker, rival clubs from abroad are believed to be leading the chase for him.

A source close to Cisse told the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday the player would be keen on a move to Rovers but, with “top club from one of the best leagues in Europe” also interested, warned time was running out.

Mackay warns the of the difficulty in bringing in new signings in modern day football and points to little activity elsewhere as signs of the tough task ahead.

“The big question is whether to sign players from abroad or to look for Premier League talent,” said Mackay.

“You go abroad and you might have to wait for them to adjust for six months.

“That is a problem we had at Arsenal when I was scouting for them.

"Recruitment is the hardest job in football. They might bang in the goals in elsewhere but the Premier League is very different.

“Rovers’ interest in Robbie Keane seems sensible to me. I believe they should go for Premier League experience first and foremost. You know what you would be getting for players like him.

“The danger is Rovers jump in two-footed for players who have never played in this league.

"A lot of homework needs to be done on these and even though you don’t know if they will pay off.

“In a way it is reassuring the club are taking their time.”

rk needs to be done on these and even though you don’t know if they will pay off.

“In a way it is reassuring the club are taking their time.”