Alan Shearer season. Speculation of a transfer to Liverpool, who finished the season as FA Cup winners, also came to nothing. During the middle of 1992, Southampton's manager, Ian Branfoot, became "the most popular manager in English football", as he took telephone calls from clubs "trying to bargain with players they don't want plus cash". Although Branfoot accepted that a sale was inevitable, he claimed that "whatever happens, we are in the driving seat". In July 1992, Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £3.6 million, with David Speedie reluctantly moving to The Dell as part of the deal.
Jack Walker sign Shearer had been blocked by Rovers. Ultimately Shearer moved to Newcastle United. In 2017 Edwards once again confirmed Walker's refusal to sell. In 2015 Liberal Democrats leader and Rovers fan Tim Farron publicly criticised Walker's daughter Lynda Matthewman. Farron stated “Part of me is cross with Lynda. I have to ask did they really do due diligence on the Venky's before they sold? This meant everything to her dad and they’ve sold it to a bunch of clowns.” Away from Walkersteel and Blackburn Rovers, Walker invested in property development in and around Blackburn. He sponsored First Tower United, and