LARS Bohinen returns to Ewood with Derby on Saturday, insisting there is no bitterness on his part over a frustrating two and a half years spent with Blackburn Rovers.

The Norwegian, in fact, has nothing but praise for the way he was treated by Rovers boss Roy Hodgson - even though failure to establish himself in the side cost him a World Cup chance.

Bohinen joined Derby less than five months ago, Rovers doubling their money from the £700,000 they paid Nottingham Forest in October 1995 for the midfielder.

He started only 40 Premiership games in his time at Ewood, including just six last season.

It meant he had little chance of World Cup selection for Norway but he declared: "I am not at all bitter.

"Roy Hodgson was always fair in his comments. I think he was honest and, of course, he was trying to keep a good squad together.

"I have no bitterness towards him or to Blackburn although I would have liked to have played more and it would have been better for me.

"It would have been easy for him to make excuses on the many times I went to his office but he was always honest with me and I really appreciated it. It made the situation a lot easier for me."

When Bohinen went back to his former club Forest with Rovers, he was the subject of threats, hate mail and a lot of abuse. He does not anticipate anything like that at Ewood.

"People have been asking me about that but I am sure it will be nothing like going back to Nottingham," he said.

"On the contrary, when I played I think I got on well with the fans.

"There will probably be a few boos but nothing untoward."

Bohinen seems to have landed himself an important role at Derby and, providing he has shaken off a few flu symptoms, should be in their starting line-up.

"I have settled in well at Derby," he added. "It's a smaller club than Blackburn but there's more of a family atmosphere."

Meanwhile, Rovers have not made any significant progress in their search for a central defender.

They have been concentrating their efforts in this country but, if doors continue to be shut in their face, may well have to try their luck abroad for the top-class capture they need.

Although it is not a crucial deadline, they are aware that for any new man to be available for the UEFA Cup first round he must sign by next Thursday.

The new "Top Tenner" scheme comes into operation for Saturday's game. As well as selling seats at normal prices, Rovers have made available a limited number of tickets for £10 at the Darwen End of the Jack Walker Stand and both ends of the Walkersteel Stand.

By offering up to 3,000 seats at most Premiership matches, Rovers hope to make top-flight football accessible to more fans and to draw support from a wider area across the North West.

The initiative will be monitored on a match-by-match basis.

Chief executive John Williams said: "It has been widely suggested that increased ticket prices have resulted in the alienation of some football supporters - a feeling they have been priced out of the market with too much emphasis on the corporate sector.

"Top Tenner is planned to break new ground by opening up football to a much wider section of the population by offering what is possibly the most competitively priced seat in the Premier League."

Tickets for the first away game at Leeds on Monday week are now on sale to season-ticket holders only, price £20 (concessions £14). Any remaining will go on open sale from next Monday until Friday.

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