ECSTATIC fans today gave goalscoring sensation Andrew Cole a hero's welcome after the biggest deal in the club's history brought him to Ewood Park.

The signing of the Manchester United striker was described by Ewood chief executive John Williams as "a mammoth day in the history of Blackburn Rovers."

Cole signed a three-and-a-half year deal for a club record fee believed to be around £7.5million. The club smashed its wage structure to pay him £40,000 a week, a drop of £5,000 on his United salary.

Manager Graeme Souness said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I've said all season that the thing missing from our game has been someone who can sniff goals and I think in Andrew we've gone for the very, very best.

And Cole said: "I'm really looking forward to the challenge.

"Having spoken to the manager here, he really sold the club to me in the way he explained what he's looking to do."

The 30-year-old is likely to go straight into the squad who travel to Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.

And the fans can't wait to see him in action. Anthony Grogan, 36, of Beryl Avenue, Blackburn, said: "I am a true blue and I'm chuffed to bits. We really need a proven goal scorer and Andy is a great addition to the team."

Charlotte Ainslie, of Livesey, Blackburn, said: "It's great. He's a good player and we need someone to help us score."

Naomi Clarke, of Infirmary, Blackburn, said: "I think he has been a traitor to Manchester United. He should have stayed."