BLACKBURN Rovers appear to be in the dark in regard to reports of a possible takeover led by sportswear supremo Chris Ronnie.

One of the Sunday tabloids yesterday carried a story in which it was claimed Ronnie is heading a consortium that plans to make a bid for control of the club.

According to the paper, the 45-year-old Scot, who is the chief executive of JJB Sports, has put together a team of foreign and domestic investors, with a view to holding talks with the Walker Trustees about a possible £25 million buy-out.

But, while a well-placed Rovers source confirmed the trustees' advisers, Rothschild, ARE still in active talks with a number of interested parties in regard to a possible takeover, the Lancashire Telegraph understands those discussions have not as yet involved Ronnie, or anybody claiming to represent him.

The source said: "The sale process continues and there are a number of people talking to the trustees' advisers.

"However, Chris Ronnie's name has never cropped up to my knowledge at any stage in the process."

Cheshire-based Ronnie is no stranger to the Rovers board; in his previous job as right-hand man to Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner who also owns Sports World International, he played a leading role in negotiating the sponsorship link-up between Rovers and Lonsdale.

Since then, Ronnie and a group of wealthy Icelandics have teamed up to buy out Dave Whelan's 29 per cent stake in JJB, and, according to the Sunday People, the same group are now keen on Rovers.

Ronnie was born in Scotland but moved to England as a child.

A student of Cheadle Hulme High School in Cheshire, he left school with two A levels.

He started his career as a professional squash player, before retiring aged 21 through injury having represented Scotland.

His retail career started when he worked in a sports shop in Cheshire and went on to run brands including Ellesse and Diadora.

He previously worked for the firm's competitor Sports Division, which was bought out by JJB for £300million in 1998, and has also worked for sportswear giant Umbro.