Iain Dowie Reveals How Roy Keane Ruined Tim Flowers' Proposed Liverpool Move in 1993
Iain Dowie has revealed how Kenny Dalglish managed to sign goalkeeper Tim Flowers for Blackburn ahead of Liverpool back in 1993.
Liverpool had agreed a British record fee for the goalie before Dalglish and Blackburn joined the transfer race. Flowers then had to choose between Blackburn and Liverpool, and Dowie has revealed how his former Southampton teammate ended up staying over at Dalglish's house.
Dalglish had previously entertained Roy Keane but the Irishman opted to sign for Manchester United, after rejecting an offer to stay the night and thinking it over elsewhere.
18 OCT 1995: TIM FLOWERS OF BLACKBURN ROVERS THROWS THE BALL OUT INTO THE PITCH DURING A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAME BETWEEN BLACKBURN AND WARSZAWA. THE FINAL SCORE: WARSZAWA 1 - 0 BLACKBURN. Mandatory Credit - Ross Kinnaird/Allsport
Ross Kinnaird/GettyImages
"He rings me, because we were room-mates, and tells me they've agreed a fee. He thinks it's £3m - either Blackburn or Liverpool," Dowie told Sky Sports, as quoted by the Daily Star.
"At the time, and it's no disrespect to Blackburn... "I said: 'Well, where are you going?' He said he wasn't sure.
"I was like: 'What do you mean you're not sure? Liverpool or Blackburn... what are you thinking about?'
HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 9: Hull City interim manager Iain Dowie stands with his hands on his head during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Liverpool at the KC Stadium on May 9, 2010 in Hull, England. (Photo by Jed Leicester/Getty Images)
Jed Leicester/GettyImages
"Sure enough, the first one to ring him was Kenny Dalglish - so up he goes to Kenny's own house.
"He's in there, he's on his own, he finishes negotiations and says 'I'll go home overnight and think about it'.
"Kenny said 'no, no, no - stay here'. Tim said 'no, no - it's alright and Kenny said 'no no, it's fine'.
"He ended up staying overnight and in the morning he ends up signing for Blackburn.
18 Mar 1995: Portrait of Blackburn Rovers Manager Kenny Dalglish during an FA Carling Premiership match against Chelsea at Ewood Park in Blackburn, England. Blackburn Rovers won the match 2-1. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M. Prior/Allsport
Gary M. Prior/GettyImages
"Tim said the next day: 'Why did you make me stay overnight?'
"Kenny goes: 'I had Roy Keane in here two weeks ago, he went home for the night and ended up signing for Manchester United. I wasn't letting you go anywhere!'
"It's a fantastic story - and what a keeper he was."
Flowers made 177 league appearances for Blackburn, winning 1994-95 Premier League and also featured in 11 international matches for England.
