FORMER Blackburn Rovers manager Ken Furphy has passed away at the age of 83.

Furphy was in charge of Rovers between July 1971 and December 1973.

He arrived at Ewood Park after guiding Watford to promotion to the Second Division and to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Furphy was tasked with reversing the club’s fortunes by new chairman William Bancroft after it was relegated into the Third Division for the first time in its history.

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After a slow start to the 1971-72 campaign the ex-Darlington defender rung the changes and the arrivals of fans’ favourites like Tony Field and John McNamee helped Rovers finish 10th.

He built on that finish in his second – and final – full season in the hotseat as a record-breaking 19-match unbeaten run saw the club finish third and just two points off the promotion places.

His Rovers rebuilding job did not go unnoticed and Furphy was headhunted for the vacant manager’s position at First Division side Sheffield United.

He remained at Bramall Lane until October 1975 before he moved to America to take over New York Cosmos where he coached the legendary Pele along with Italian forward Giorgio Chinaglia.

Furphy’s former Rovers players Field and Terry Garbett were also part of his Cosmos team.

A Rovers spokesperson said: “Rovers would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Ken’s family and friends at this sad time.”