Former Blackburn Rovers star Gary Flitcroft admits he regrets not ever signing for derby rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Flitcroft admits he would have loved to have played for his home-town team but the derby games with Bolton always had added spice.

"I always wanted to play at Bolton but Manchester City and then Blackburn came in for me," he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"It was always special playing against the Wanderers and a bit difficult because the family were there and I always tried a bit harder.

"We had some great games against Bolton but in the first one I got sent off early on although I scored against them at Ewood Park.

"I used to love playing derby games because they are my type of games - blood and thunder. That is how rivalry is but it never continued after the game.

"Fingers crossed both teams will stay in the Premiership as I think they are both too strong to go down."