Blackburn may sue

BLACKBURN Rovers could pursue a compensation claim against Sven Goran Eriksson, after the Sampdoria coach confirmed last night that he will not be joining the Ewood Park club as manager next summer.

Rovers insist they have a written agreement with Eriksson, signed late last year, in which the Swede committed himself to taking over in July.

But Eriksson's commitment to the move began to waver once interest from Sampdoria's managerless, Serie A rivals Lazio became apparent.

Blackburn owner Jack Walker, speaking to Radio Jersey yesterday, brought the speculation surrounding Eriksson's future to an end by confirming he would not be joining the club.

Walker said Eriksson had phoned him at 2.0 p.m. yesterday to tell him he would be staying in Italy.

Walker would not confirm that the Premier League outfit would seek compensation. "It's too early to say at this stage," he said.

Blackburn have worked tirelessly to find an internationally recognised coach to take over following Ray Harford's resignation in October, when the club was rooted at the foot of the Premiership.

There has been a remarkable revival under caretaker manager Tony Parkes, with Rovers now standing in their highest Premiership position of the season.

But Parkes has already made it clear on several occasions that he does not want the job on a full time basis.

That leaves Blackburn to start all over again in their search for Harford's successor amid talk that former England boss Bobby Robson could be a prime contender. Another name in the frame is Inter Milan's Roy Hodgson.

Eriksson has managed Sampdoria for five years after spells with Roma and Fiorentina. He arrived in Italy following a highly successful five season stint with Benfica. He admits that his ambition is to win the European Cup.

But although Sampdoria could find themselves in next season's Champions' League, Eriksson confirmed that he will be quitting the club and it now seems clear that he is Lazio bound.

It remains to be seen whether Danish striker Per Pedersen, who was signed from Odense yesterday in a £2.5 million deal, was one of the players recommended by Eriksson.