That was the weekend that was: RUMOURS: Ewood vacancy sparks scramble

THE GUESSING games over who will succeed Roy Hodgson at Ewood Park reveals a diversity of opinion among the Sunday gossip leaders. Top of the jaw-droppers is the News of the World's claim that Jack Walker has asked Alan Shearer to return to Ewood Park as player-manager, with the full backing of Tim Sherwood and Chris Sutton. The story says the response from the England captain has been "positive".

The Sunday Mirror, however, says that West Ham's Harry Redknapp has emerged as a shock front-runner, not only because of his success in turning the Hammers from Premiership stragglers to European candidates but because the row over Andy Impey's transfer has left him unsure of his position.

The People says Jack Walker has discreetly sounded out Middlesbrough's Bryan Robson, impressed with the former England skipper's ability to attract star names to unfashionable Teesside. The People also quotes Italian sources as saying that Lazio's coach Sven Goran Eriksson, who turned Rovers down before Hodgson came, is again a contender.

The Mail on Sunday gives greater prominence to a story that Robbie Fowler has turned down a pounds 35,000-a-week pay offer from Liverpool, opening the way for a possible pounds 10m move to Arsenal, Tottenham or abroad.

The News of the World says Aston Villa are lining up a pounds 6m offer for Nottingham Forest's Steve Stone, and that Newcastle are set to spend pounds 4m to lure the Paris St-Germain midfielder Didier Domi to St James' Park.

The Mail says David Batty is prepared to waive pounds 800,000 owed to him to leave Newcastle for Leeds, while the People names Phillipe Albert as another likely departure, with Southampton ready to offer pounds 1.5m.