Blackburn Rovers co-owner Balaji Rao is picking up the tab for three fans who followed the squad to India last week.

Rao and the rest of the Venky's team had already paid for nine selected supporters to come over for the historic game, but a trio of others travelled under their own steam.

The far-flying followers met Balaji at a party at the weekend and told him their story - and the larger-than-life Indian businessman immediately pledged to pay for their visit, says the Mirror.

Long-term fan Alan Birkbeck - known as Birdy - has also been promised that Balaji will come and visit him the next time he is in Blackburn to see his one-off collection of memorabilia.