AS some Blackburn Rovers fans look like growing increasingly resigned to ultimately losing their Premier League survival bid, one former Ewood Park favourite can’t help but draw comparisons to dark days of the past.

Mike Ferguson has many fond memories from his eight seasons at Blackburn Rovers, which saw him make 249 appearances for the club, but his early days in East Lancashire were not quite so memorable.

The Burnley-born midfielder was a member of the Accrington Stanley side who went to the wall due to financial reasons in 1962 and he believes the lack of leadership at Peel Park back then was strikingly similar to what is seen at Ewood now.

He isn’t suggesting Rovers are ever in danger of suffering the same fate as their East Lancashire neighbours but believes a lack of leadership from boss Steve Kean and owners Venky’s is making a lengthy absence from the top flight almost inevitable.

He said: “Looking at Blackburn Rovers this season has been like the last few weeks at Accrington Stanley when I was there. I’m not suggesting Rovers will suffer that fate but the feeling around the place is very similar.

“There was no leadership at Accrington during those last few weeks and there is no leadership at Blackburn Rovers now. The manager Jimmy Harrower left and we were left with no one interested in the team.

“That seems to be happening now. You just get the feeling that no one is leading the club and I count Steve Kean and the owners in that.

“Obviously the situation is very different than it was at Accrington back then. But if Blackburn Rovers go down you fear it will be very, very difficult for them to get back up and no one seems to be doing anything about it.”

Ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Premier League visit of Fulham, Ferguson has been left fuming at comments earlier this week by Kean’s agent Jerome Anderson claiming the protesting fans at Ewood this season have been driven by ulterior motives.

He insists the main factor behind the growing concern among fans is simply results driven and that Anderson had no right to start criticising the club’s support.

“I have never ever heard an agent make comments about supporters or the team in this way. The owners should actually ban him from the club and also not allow him to be involved in any transfers in or out of the club,” he said.

“Money the club pay agents actually comes from part of supporters’ income who pay at the turnstiles. I think the club allowing comments from an agent regarding the club shows that the supporters appear to be right.

“it would also be appropriate for the manager Steve Kean to sack Anderson as his agent. I am sure the supporters would welcome him doing that. All he has done is increased the pressure on the manager.

“I am one who believes supporters should support the team but when you hear comments like this you can’t believe it. Fans pay their money, which agents, journalists and managers don’t, and so are entitled to their opinion.

“How the owners are putting up with is beyond me, absolutely beyond me. There is a resigned feel to the place.”

Ferguson, 68, was also a member of Jack Marshall’s Rovers side who were relegated from the top flight back in 1966 and, with it taking almost 30 years to return, fears a similar fate now.

Rovers entertain Fulham rock bottom of the Premier League and Ferguson hopes he is wrong but does not any signs that they are about to turn it around.

Ferguson said: “Look at the table and we have to win two more games than the teams just outside the relegation zone. We haven’t shown signs of doing that over the past year.

“I hope I am wrong but you look at the manager’s record and it is obvious something is not working.

“The manager keeps name dropping and saying all these top managers know what a good job he is doing. I think they are just being polite.

“I remember when Eddie Quigley was manager of us we lacked any leadership and you get the feeling it is the same now. I hope I am wrong, I hope we are all wrong.”