Editing Jack Walker (section)

==Blackburn Rovers==
In 1988, Jack Walker donated building materials for the new Riverside Stand at [[Ewood Park]]. It is also thought that his money was used to pay for the acquisition and wages of [[Ossie Ardiles]] and [[Steve Archibald]] in the 1987–88 season.<ref name="walkersteel"/>

Walker took full control of the club in January 1991 with the intention of turning Rovers into the greatest and most prosperous club England had ever seen. He also threatened to make [[Manchester United]] look "cheap"<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/profile-money-money-money-man--jack-walker-1540594.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Norman | last=Fox | title=Profile: Money, money, money man - Jack Walker | date=1992-08-16}}</ref> and further outlined his motivations in a 1992 documentary on the club. "I'm only interested in putting Rovers where they should be. Blackburn Rovers is one of the greatest football teams in England. They are one of the founder members and we want them right back on top."<ref>{{cite news| url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=573&v=MrKJ5QEbF6I&feature=emb_title | work=Granada Television | title ="The Team That Jack Built" | date=2013-11-13}}</ref> Within the first three years of his takeover Walker spent £25 million on new players. This included breaking the British transfer record twice, signing [[Alan Shearer]] from [[Southampton F.C|Southampton]] for £3.3 million in 1992 and [[Chris Sutton]] from [[Norwich City F.C|Norwich City]] for £5 million in 1994.

The Ewood Park ground was reconstructed at a cost of more than £20 million to give it a capacity of just over 30,000, with the new Jack Walker Stand providing a lasting tribute. New training facilities and a youth academy were also constructed at [[Brockhall Village]].

When Jack Walker bought Rovers, the [[1990–91 in English football|1990-91 season]] was half completed and they were just above the relegation zone. They had not played in the First Division since 1966 and their last major trophy had been won in 1928.

Manager [[Don Mackay]] initially used Walker's funds to make signings which helped ensure Rovers survival that season, and built the platform for a promotion challenge in [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]]. Walker declared his ambition early on that Rovers would return to the top flight, establish themselves as a top side in England and eventually go on to compete with the very best clubs in Europe.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/profile-money-money-money-man--jack-walker-1540594.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Norman | last=Fox | title=Profile: Money, money, money man - Jack Walker | date=1992-08-16}}</ref> [[Kenny Dalglish]] became manager in October 1991, and by May, Rovers had been promoted to the newly formed [[Premier League]] through the playoffs.<ref name="dalglish">{{cite news| title = Kenny Dalglish at Blackburn | url =https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/kenny-dalglish-at-blackburn-1311105.html | work =The Independent| date =1996-08-23| access-date =2010-01-26 | location=London}}</ref>

Walker was present at the [[1994 FA Charity Shield]] leading the Rovers team onto the pitch at the old [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/uk-net-loss-football-club-chairmen/article/409502 |title= UK: NET LOSS - FOOTBALL CLUB CHAIRMEN.|publisher = Management Today}}</ref>

In the [[1994–95 in English football|1994-95 season]], Rovers won the Premiership title with [[Manchester United]] finishing runners up. It was their first top division title for 81 years and their first major trophy for 67 years.<ref>{{cite news| title = League Table Premier League 94/95 | url = https://www.statbunker.com/competitions/LeagueTable?comp_id=11 | publisher =Statbunker| access-date =2016-03-01}}</ref>

In the summer of 1996 Alan Shearer was top goalscorer at [[Euro 96]] and was linked with a move to a host of leading English and continental clubs, but the main talk in the national media was that Shearer would join local rivals Manchester United. Jack Walker and the [[Lancashire Telegraph]] constantly dismissed rumours of Shearer joining Manchester United. Local journalist Peter White stated that the club should never be forgiven should Shearer be allowed to join Manchester United.

"Rovers should never be forgiven for allowing that to happen. They know they would never be forgiven if they let Shearer go to the club the Rovers fans love to hate. Fans might just live with a move to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] or [[Derby della madonnina|Milan]] but not to 'that lot.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6201820.Bid_for_Shearer_wide_of_the_mark/ |title=Bid for Shearer wide of the mark|work =Lancashire Telegraph|date=11 July 1996 }}</ref>

Manchester United manager [[Alex Ferguson]] expressed anger over his failure to sign Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers. Ferguson stated "I had a gut feeling that it wouldn't happen simply because Jack Walker hates Manchester United."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/14-Diary/6728-august-1996 |title=August 1996 |publisher =When Saturday Comes}}</ref> [[Martin Edwards]] also confirmed Ferguson's attempt to sign Shearer had been blocked by Rovers. Ultimately Shearer moved to Newcastle United.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/1996/7/article/320745.html |title=Record Transfer Sees Shearer to Newcastle |publisher =themoscowtimes.com}}</ref> In 2017 Edwards once again confirmed Walker's refusal to sell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/the-exact-reason-why-alan-shearer-didnt-join-manchester-united-has-been-revealed-142781 |title=The exact reason why Alan Shearer didn't join Manchester United has been revealed.|date=23 September 2017 |publisher =JOE.co.uk}}</ref>

[[John Hall (English businessman)|John Hall]], the then Newcastle chairman, also stated that Walker did not want to sell Shearer to Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-john-hall-survival-promotion-16014623 |title=Sir John Hall on the heartache of Newcastle United losing the Premier League title|work =Chronicle Live|date=11 May 2021 }}</ref>