TIM Sherwood today dismissed any suggestions that Colin Hendry's departure might have affected morale as he leads Blackburn Rovers into the new Premiership campaign, writes PETER WHITE.

The Rovers skipper, in an exclusive new-season message to the fans before the first match against Derby County at Ewood this afternoon, knows that Hendry's talents have yet to be replaced.

But he remains optimistic about the prospects for Rovers - revealing that manager Roy Hodgson only wants winners at the club.

And, stressing the ambitions of the squad, Sherwood told supporters that their aim was to try to win everything and defeat hurt the players even more than the fans.

On Hendry's loss, the skipper said: "I don't think it's affected morale but maybe it has affected the strength of our squad. But we all know that players come and go.

"I remember we played a pre-season friendly at Darlington when Alan Shearer was signing and there were banners saying: 'We want David Speedie back' and 'Who's Alan Shearer?'.

"So people do get over it.

"He has been a great servant to the club, everyone knows that, they don't need me to tell them.

"But at the end of the day he's gone and everything carries on without him. Blackburn Rovers will still be here."

Sherwood knows that Rovers are not going to sweep the board but that doesn't diminish his or the rest of the squad's ambitions.

And it hits hard when they lose.

"The number of fans seems to be increasing every year, let's hope we can maintain that," he said.

"We'll try our best as we always do and hope we can get results as we did last year. "Maybe we can have a good run in Europe, or even win it.

"When we start the season we are looking to win the league and win every cup.

"Our ambitions are there, they haven't changed.

"And when we lose a game there's even more disappointment for the players than for the fans.

"But if we do get beaten, we'll carry on and do our best to put it right next time.

"The fans can rely on the fact that the players and the management staff here are winners.

"That's what the manager wants and he won't accept anything less."

"You are always optimistic at the start of the season. You just hope that the new players who have come in will make us a better team, which is obviously the idea.

"We hope it happens and, if it does, we should, realistically, finish better than sixth.

"Last season we had an exceptional start and you can't really expect that every year.

"To do half as well as that and then maybe finish half better than we did could see us level out.

"And I think if you finish stronger you have a better chance in this league - rather than fly away and lead.

"Hopefully we're ready.

"Everyone feels different individually. But I feel I'm ready and I hope we can do it as a team because that's what wins things not individual players."

Tore Pedersen is back in training after recovering from his knee injury and could play for the reserves on Monday.

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