Football: Kidd axes Ewood stalwart

BRIAN KIDD began building his brave new world at Blackburn Rovers yesterday by ending Derek Fazackerley's contract as first-team coach at Ewood Park.

Kidd, who resigned as Manchester United's assistant manager last week to replace the sacked Roy Hodgson, intends to appoint a new coach as quickly as possible.

The long-term Rovers servant Fazackerley holds the record for the most appearances for Blackburn. He made 674 appearances for the Lancashire club in 17 years as a stalwart centre-half before joining the Ewood Park coaching staff in the early 1990s.

Hodgson himself is ready to jump back into management, as the new coach of VfB Stuttgart. He is in talks with the Bundesliga club about a quick return to the top-level game just a fortnight after being sacked by Rovers.

Stuttgart are hoping to persuade Hodgson to join them this week, after Winfried Schafer resigned last week. They are in ninth place in the First Division.

Despite his problems at Blackburn, Hodgson has a good reputation abroad after his time as coach of both Switzerland and at Internazionale.