THE Colin Hendry saga has thrown up countless issues, writes NEIL BRAMWELL.

It is clear that supporters have accepted his reasons for departure as genuine and have opted to focus on the player's tremendous efforts on and off the pitch.

However, it is also inescapable that the timing of the move has left Roy Hodgson with a major pre-season headache.

The Rangers interest in Hendry has been known for some time.

And, so, I cannot help thinking that the move could have been manufactured long before this week.

The parallels with Shearer's departure are obvious.

Hero-worshipping fans have been left with an inevitable bitter taste - Hendry accepted that fact.

The players' moves also followed impressive displays on the world stage.

To be an idol at Blackburn Rovers clearly does not compete with the worship of a nation's followers.

Both players were lured away from Ewood to pursue a boyhood dream.

But - if Jack Walker is correct - both players also left for more money.

There are, though, many differences in the two sets of circumstances.

Shearer, who had already distanced himself from the Ewood faithful by sacrificing a push for a UEFA Cup place for a minor groin operation, had a release clause in his contract for offers more than a set figure.

Hendry had signed a new contract just days earlier. This fact makes a nonsense of the rules that apply to player poaching - the law could never be applied.

As soon as a rival club's attentions are revealed publicly, a player becomes unsettled. That amounts to an unoffical approach.

And we all know that the preliminary cloak and dagger conversations take place long before any media speculation.

This case also makes a nonsense of the soccer contract.

It works only in the player's favour and player power is already escalating out of control in the world's richest domestic competition.

I admire the Dutch model, illustrated by the current wrangle between brothers Frank and Ronald de Boer and Ajax.

Their contracts were renewed for another six years only last year.

So the De Boers must now convince the Dutch Football Association's arbitration committee that there are valid arguments for cutting their contracts short.

(I would not, though, want Graham Kelly involved in a decision on any player's future - with the possible exception of David Beckham.) There is no reason why soccer players should not play by the same rules that govern all other labour markets.

Another issue to emerge from the Hendry wrangle is that of players' testimonials.

Premiership players earn more in a week than your average supporter earns in a full year.

The average supporter does not receive a testimonial for every 10 weeks of service at one firm.

One major positive factor to emerge from the Hendry murkiness has been the proof that Blackburn Rovers now live on a different public relations planet.

Remember the 'Nothing Has Changed, 'He's Going Nowhere' bluff and bluster of the Shearer departure?

The club, under the stewardship of chief executive John Williams and manager Roy Hodgson, has a new and refreshing attitude to communication.

Their integrity and honesty throughout negotiations could only have helped fans form a balanced and informed view of a delicate transaction.

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

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