BRIAN Kidd will not be making a shock return to football with Rovers' FA Cup rivals Liverpool.

The former Ewood chief has been strongly linked with a coaching role at Anfield according to fresh speculation in the national tabloids.

But sources on Merseyside today dismissed those suggestions as the build up to Monday's eagerly awaited FA Cup clash hots up.

And with the likes of Phil Thompson and Patrice Bergeus already part of Gerard Houllier's backroom staff, there is unlikely to be any future role at the club for the ex-Manchester United number two.

Kidd has been out of the game for the last two months since he was sacked by Rovers at the beginning of November.

But the 50-year-old has been linked with a number of posts including coaching jobs with the Welsh national side, England's Under 21s and Rovers' First Division rivals Manchester City.

However a move to Anfield is a non-starter despite Kidd's obvious coaching abilities.

"Talk of Brian Kidd coming to Liverpool is absolute rubbish," said a source close to the Merseyside giants.

"Gerard Houllier has only met Brian Kidd twice in his life - once last season and once in the summer when Rovers and Liverpool met in a pre-season friendly.

"But there's no way he wants to add him to his staff."

Meanwhile, the details of Kidd's Rovers pay-off are still being thrashed out by legal people.

He was sacked just 11 months after succeeding former boss Roy Hodgson and still had nearly three years to run on his contract. But Rovers' chief executive John Williams expects that to be sorted out soon and insists there is no dispute between the two parties.

"As far as I'm concerned the agreement has been done, it's just in the hands of the lawyers and waiting for a few legal niceties," said Williams.

"But there are no problems between the two sides."

On the playing front, manager Tony Parkes is still on the look out for a keeper despite the fact Alan Kelly could be back from an ankle problem quicker than expected.

Current number three Alan Fettis has already expressed his desire to leave Ewood, and with his contract due to expire in the summer, Rovers are currently investigating a couple of options as cover.

Rovers' two academy teams are both without fixtures this weekend but they are back in action next Saturday in a re-arranged double-header against Bolton Wanderers.

Rovers have announced new dates for the two reserve games which were postponed before Christmas.

The game against Barnsley reserves, which should have taken place on December 21 at Ewood, will now go ahead on Tuesday 29 February. And the clash with Everton, postponed from December 8, will now take place on Wednesday May 3, also at Ewood.

Next Wednesday's reserve game against Bolton at the Reebok has also been put back 24 hours to Thursday January 13 (kick off 7pm).

Tickets for Rovers home league game against Norwich City on January 29 go on open sale as from Monday.

Supporters should note, however, that the date of this game is the scheduled date for the FA Cup fifth round.

Should Rovers be involved then this game will be affected.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.