The GLENN KEELEY column. . .

IF Mark Hughes is the man for Rovers, I think the board have made the perfect choice.

In fact, he's everyone's choice, right from the players to the supporters. And rightly so.

Firstly, it's important the club gets someone who will come in with the immediate respect of the players, and Mark fits that bill.

I'm not sure if the lads have been asked for their opinions, but certain members of the dressing room have already said the former Manchester United star would be the manager of their choice, and I'm sure those thoughts have been heard.

He won admiration as a player for being an extremely fine professional and a tough professional.

And because of that reputation, I think he would come in with the full backing of the fans, and that would provide him with a great chance to settle in.

People like to be associated with winners, and Mark has enjoyed that quality as a player.

He has picked up an abundance of silverware with United, but more significantly for the managerial role he has been heavily linked with, he has been a winner with Rovers.

Mark was part of the team that lifted the Worthington Cup, he has a reputation as an extremely fine professional and a tough professional. He has been a winner all his life, and perhaps that type of character is what is needed now more than ever as the club seeks a major confidence boost.

He has dragged the Wales international side out of the doldrums and, if appointed, I'm sure he can do the same for Rovers.

It has been a miserable start to the new campaign.

Graeme Souness had been at Rovers a long time, I think he's done a marvellous job for the club, but maybe every manager does have a shelf life and he felt it was right to move on.

Now isn't the time to look back. We have to look to the future and Mark is as good a candidate as any to take Rovers forward.

He's had a nice start to his career as a manager with Wales, working with players from a high level of football.

Whether he would be able to balance the two roles for the time being is open to debate. He did a good job of that while he was still a player. But as a player you can just concentrate on yourself, as a manager you have to concentrate on an entire team.

He has always struck me as a very honourable man, and I'm sure if Wales was to interfere then he would make the decision that the club comes first.

I see the Rovers vacancy as a wonderful opportunity for Mark and one which, I would like to think, would be almost impossible for him to turn down if a deal was put on the table.

It would be the first time he'd have a club to himself and I'm sure he will be relishing the opportunity to have a weekly job to do and to start at Premier League club is great for him.

If the board have made up their mind who they want, they should pursue getting that manager in place as soon as possible.

Hopefully he will be unveiled in time for Saturday. And, if it's Mark Hughes, I'm sure he would get an absolutely fantastic reception.