High marks for Kidd in solo test

Brian Kidd may simply be shy. Or perhaps he has views on the disabled and reincarnation that he does not want to share with the rest of the world. But in nine weeks in charge of Blackburn Rovers, he has already become the Greta Garbo of managers.

In his first solo test flight as a Premiership manager, Kidd has so far scored high marks in both the practical examination and the written one, managing to pen a successful team sheet four times out of nine and a losing one only once.

But, as many feared, he still has not taken the oral test, politely turning down individual interviews with the phrase: "People don't want to hear me grinding my gums all the time." Perhaps he learned more from Alex Ferguson at Manchester United than we thought. It was certainly pure Fergie to ban his players from talking to the press after last Saturday's draw with Tottenham, enforcing it with the threat of a fine of a week's wages.

Thus Matt Jansen was unable to share the joy of his brilliant debut goal with reporters; it may have made him feel like a million dollars but describing it was not worth 20 grand in forfeited wages. More significantly, from Kidd's point of view, Jason Wilcox was unable to give an account of how he became the third Blackburn player to be sent off in three successive home games.

Wilcox, who was also sent off against Lyon in the UEFA Cup, was the eighth Blackburn man this season to be sent roving to the dressing-room by a referee, suggesting they are a club at which Dennis Wise would feel very much at home.

After a win against Charlton in his first match in charge on December 5th, Blackburn have lost only to Derby in the eight matches since. The start of that run earned Kidd the Manager of the Month award for December and his team, up to their noses in the brown stuff at the foot of the table when he took over, are now trying to shake their ankles free. No one believes they are serious relegation candidates anymore, though Kidd would no doubt tell you that careless talk costs points.

He says: "League position means nothing in December or January. It's May that counts. In the Premiership, every game is a hard one. Digging in is what it's all about and that's what we have done. The attitude and spirit of the players is very good. Forget what else people might tell you. Football is about players and the best managers and coaches are those with the best and most committed players.

"I've just left a club where the players were supposedly superstars but they were great players who went about the job in a great way. There were no egos there."

Captain Tim Sherwood was one of the most committed players when Kidd arrived. Sadly, committed only to joining Spurs. But in a remarkable demonstration of faith in a still unproven manager, Blackburn's owner Jack Walker has allowed his new boss to spend £14 million on new players. Jason McAteer, a £4 million buy from Liverpool, is the latest to arrive, joining Keith Gillespie, Ashley Ward and Jansen.

Kidd has also brought in his old United pal Brian McClair as his number two, describing him as a man of "great qualities." The new signings were necessary to replace all the players who have succumbed to injury and suspension this season. The striker Chris Sutton has been out with stress fractures in both feet, Garry Flitcroft has been out for three months, and the two Kevins, Gallacher and Davies, have mainly been a partnership only on the treatment table.

Kidd says: "People have told me that I will have a problem when everyone is fit. Well, it is a problem I am looking forward to. I am just grateful to Mr Walker and his board. They have gone out of their way to understand our objectives."

There is certainly a new atmosphere on the Rovers training ground. And there is nothing like a new manager and new signings to stimulate the recovery of injured players.

Many people think if Kidd is serving a managerial apprenticeship at Blackburn, it is for Old Trafford not Ewood Park, believing him to be the natural successor to Ferguson. Apart from the fact that you might be better waiting for Godot than Fergie to retire, such talk is an insult to Kidd and his ambitions to prove that he can fly solo.

He says: "I'm sure the club wouldn't want me back and I think I will be well down the pecking order when it comes to replacing the gaffer." His impressive start at Blackburn, however, must already have moved him a few rungs higher.