ROY HODGSON paid tribute to wealthy Blackburn owner Jack Walker after Rovers booked a place in the UEFA Cup - and then promised to spend some of his millions in an attempt to make Blackburn a European force, three years after their wretched efforts in the Champions League.
The Blackburn manager watched his club reserve their spot in sensational style with a last gasp 1-0 victory over Newcastle on the final day. "Although I am delighted it's not just delight for me personally, I am particularly pleased for Jack Walker, who cares so deeply for this club." said Hodgson.
"He was so happy in the first half of the season when our form was excellent but he was knocked for six during our late bad run. By qualifying for Europe we have not only achieved our pre-season goal but we have made him very happy. I would have been shattered if we had missed out after all the work we've put in.
"People have worked incredibly hard and this is the icing on the cake. We will buy in the summer, we have to and the club's buying policy has been very successful.They have made a habit of turning sound investment into good profit, in the case of Alan Shearer £3million into £15m.
"Obviously qualification into Europe gives us extra potential in the market. Blackburn Rovers are considered a top side in England and English football is considered a top competition. So foreign players will see us as a serious option."

VILLA PRAY FOR AN ATTACK OF THE BLUES ASTON VILLA jetted out for their end-of-season break in Majorca yesterday hoping that by the time they return next weekend, Chelsea will have secured them a place in Europe next season by winning the Cup Winners' Cup. Manager John Gregory knows that a UEFA Cup place - courtesy of a victory for Gianluca Vialli's side over Stuttgart tomorrow night - could be just the bargaining tool he needs to keep out-of-contract defender Steve Staunton at the club and persuade new players to join. Villa's 1-0 win over Arsenal, secured with a battling performance after Dwight Yorke's incredible chipped penalty-kick, kept them in seventh place. Blackburn's late winner over Newcastle at Ewood Park meant that Villa did not qualify for Europe automatically despite a run of nine wins in 11 league games since manager John Gregory took over in February. Gregory joked: "When Derby won the championship back in the 1970s, they were all on a beach in Majorca at the time, so we'll have to find the same beach! If Chelsea win that gives us that little bit of enticement with a UEFA Cup place next season.That might help Steve make his mind up as well as one or two others. "I wish we had one more game to play but that's life. We'll just hope for the best and expect the worst. But I'm very proud of my players and we've got a bit of hope to carry us into next year. We need a good start and to add one or two players to the squad and we are looking forward with a lot of optimism.'' As well as a well-earned rest, Gregory is also hoping to tie up striker Savo Milosevic's proposed £4.5m move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza next week.

SAD HARRY LAMENTS HARTSON'S MISSING GOALS WEST HAM boss Harry Redknapp, distraught after seeing his side miss out on a European spot by a single point, has placed the blame squarely at the goal-scoring feet of striker John Hartson. The red-haired frontman with the fiery temper suffered a pack of red and yellow cards this season and missed out on the run-in through suspension. And Redknapp, who saw his £5m buy from Arsenal score the goals which helped the Hammers stay up last season, reckons Hartson's absence was the key. He still managed 24 goals second only to Manchester United's Andy Cole in all competitions this season - as the Hammers swept to their highest League position since they finished third in the old First Division 12 years a go. Their final Hartson-less Premiership match, a 4-3 win over an equally disappointed Leicester, enabled Aston Villa to grab seventh spot, and a place in the UEFA Cup if Chelsea win the Cup Winners' Cup against Stuttgart tomorrow night in Stockholm. The European dream was shattered by a draw against Crystal Palace and a heavy defeat against Southampton both without Hartson spearheading their attack. Redknapp told Football 365: I don't want to take a swing at the lad but I reckon we would have made Europe if he hadn't been suspended. It really does make you wonder what would have happened and I'm convinced he would have scored another half-dozen goals and that would have been enough for us. But I want to stress that I'm not having a go at John, he's had a fantastic season for us. It's just a real shame he couldn't make the difference between us qualifying and just missing out.

top