BLACKBURN Rovers' man for a crisis, Tony Parkes, last night revealed some of the trade secrets behind his success as a caretaker manager.

Parkes has agreed to don his famous caretaker's coat for an incredible SIXTH time at Blackburn in the wake of Graeme Souness's sudden departure for Newcastle.

And the Ewood legend insists one of the most important aspects of his unique role is to keep the playing staff fully abreast of any developments at a time when it's easy for uncertainty to creep into the dressing room.

"I try to keep the players well informed as to what's happening because they're important people at this football club," said Parkes.

"They need to know what John Williams is saying to me and where we are with various situations, so I make sure I talk to the captain and the senior players.

"If you keep everyone informed then no-one can say 'he never spoke to me and I didn't realise that.'

"This is a time when players need to know what's going on.

"They want to know is there a manager in the pipeline? And how long is it going to be before he takes over?

"This is a time when a lot of things are still up in the air from the players' point of view and they deserve to know what's going on."

Parkes has stepped into the breach on five separate occasions in the past, the longest sequence being for 30 games after Ray Harford resigned in 1996.

In total, he has taken charge of 70 first team games, winning 27 and losing 20.

But he insists the role of a caretaker manager is far different from that of a full-time one. "The main difference is you are taking over a team that is always at the bottom of the league," said Parkes.

"You never take over this position when a club is fourth or fifth from the top.

"So it's a time when the players are not always in the right spirits, a lot of them are usually unhappy that the manager has gone because they were his players, but it's just a case of getting on with it because we are all professionals.

"Dominic Matteo had something like four different managers at Leeds last season so he's used to this kind of thing, but for a lot of the players it will be new.

"As the caretaker, you have to try and impress upon the players that you know what you're doing and you know what you're talking about.

"You've got to try and get their respect from day one and then try and treat them properly."