RAY Harford will spread his scouting network far and wide again this weekend in the continuing search for the two major signings that could turn Blackburn Rovers back into a title-challenging force again next season.

The Rovers boss has already made a personal check on Bordeaux's impressive Zinedine Zidane.

And I can reveal that, when he watched Zidane help the French club into the final of the UEFA Cup this week, he was impressed by others on display.

The man who made the biggest impact was another Bordeaux man, forward Christophe Dugarry.

Both Zidane and Dugarry are current French internationals, keeping the likes of Eric Cantona and David Ginola out of the national squad and, almost certainly, out of the European Championship finals.

Zidane, I am informed, looked a little jaded on Wednesday night when Slavia Prague were beaten.

He is reputed to have played 68 matches this season, a staggering total, partly due to Bordeaux's progress from the Intertoto qualifying competition through to the UEFA Cup final.

With domestic league and cup commitments, as well as internationals, it has been a long winter for him but his talent is unquestioned.

Dugarry, I believe, had a splendid game and must have made an impression on the Rovers boss.

The French forward is the man who scored two of the goals that helped Bordeaux overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat mighty AC Milan in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

It was a real boost for Dugarry, who had been absent for three months with an injury, but returned in time for the restart of the European competitions.

And he took his frustration out on Milan, before helping to batter Bordeaux's semi-final opponents into submission.

Harford will no doubt be keeping tabs on both players as he weighs up all the options but I believe he is definitely in the market for two big signings this summer, with plenty of funding available.

And the sooner the better in many respects, as season-ticket sales will need a timely boost, especially if the longshot of claiming a European place does not come off.

Meanwhile, as feared, Garry Flitcroft's season is over.

Rovers' recent £3 million signing from Manchester City was hit by a one-game ban and a £750 fine when he appeared before the Football Association in London yesterday.

Flitcroft, who had topped 45 disciplinary points, completes a three-match suspension for being sent off on his debut when Rovers face Arsenal next Saturday.

He will now also have to sit out the final match of the season, the following weekend at Chelsea, because of this extra ban.

But at least he will be able to start next season with a clean sheet.

Any current Rovers' season ticket holders who have not received renewal forms should contact the club (01254 71666).

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