Black armbands for the departing forward line.

Well it wasn't exactly a bolt from the blue. But Craig Bellamy's decision to quit Rovers for Anfield still leaves a few bruises. In many ways he was the perfect Rovers striker - fast, deadly and a marvellous wind up merchant. But it's clear that he was only really entertaining us while a better offer came along. Sure there will be a lot written about his dream move to the club he supported as a kid and the fact that he has taken a £1million pay cut to go to Anfield, but let's leave that to the tabloids.

What every good Rovers fan will be asking now is - who's the replacement?

My sources tell me that Hughes now has a kitty of around £10million for transfers. And it might have been more if we had got market value for Bellamy, because let's face it £6m would be cheap at twice the price.

Word is that Hughes has been sniffing around the pricier London suburbs for new boys. Champions Chelsea are thought to be ready to part with Carlton Cole for around £2m and who knows whether Sparky sounded out the Special One about Carlton on the blues last visit to Ewood. And there is a persistent rumour that Rovers are well down the path of offering Mido, the Roma striker who shone for Spurs last season, a deal. No figures mentioned so far, but as another bad boy looking to rebuild his reputation he could be right at home with Reid and Todd and Savage.

Would that leave enough for a move for a midfielder? Tugay won't last forever. His replacement could be another foriegn star to come through the SPL. Petrov at Celtic has attracted £4m bids, which the Glasgow side have found easy to turn down. Would Rovers have enough in the bank and the reputation to attract him?

Let's hope so - today was a terrible day for our prospects in 2006/07.