TWO games to go. And two wins from a possible place in Europe.

Blackburn Rovers have it all to play for as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane tomorrow, and then Reading at Ewood Park on Sunday.

But whatever happens over the next four days, the fans should be proud of their team's achievement after what has been another excellent season.

If you don't agree with me then just take a look at what's happening at another of my old clubs, Newcastle United, right now.

For the third time in as many years, Freddy Shepherd and the Newcastle board are looking to appoint a new manager following the departure of Glenn Roeder at the weekend.

This is a club that regularly gets 52,000 fans through the gate, and they've invested millions in trying to bring success to Tyneside, yet they are no nearer to winning any silverware now than when Freddy Shepherd first became chairman.

They've shelled out big money on star signings - Michael Owen cost £16 million, Obafemi Martins £10m, and Albert Luque £9.5m - but if ever a club epitomised the old adage money doesn't always buy success' then surely it's Newcastle, who languish in 13th position in the Premiership, a whopping 25 points off the Champions League pace, and 46 behind Manchester United, the newly-crowned champions.

Now compare that to Blackburn Rovers, who are looking to qualify for Europe via the Premier League for the sixth time in 13 seasons - a phenomenal achievement for a town club with a fan base a fraction the size of Newcastle's.

When Mark Hughes took charge of Blackburn in September 2004, Rovers had just been well beaten 3-0 by a Newcastle side that had Graeme Souness as its new manager.

Rovers were 19th at the time and Newcastle were 12th, but the two clubs have since gone in opposite directions - a point ruthlessly emphasised at the weekend when Blackburn triumphed 2-0 at St James' Park to hasten Roeder's departure.

Hughes hasn't spent big in bringing success to Blackburn - the most expensive signing in his three years at Ewood has been Craig Bellamy, who cost a relatively paltry £3.75m from Newcastle (of all places).

But with a shrewd manager at the helm, and stability within the boardroom, Rovers have shown what can be achieved on fairly modest resources.

Three cup semi-finals in three years, a top-six finish in the Premiership, UEFA Cup qualification, and hopefully another passport into Europe at the end of this season, is a remarkable record for a club of Rovers' size.

In contrast, Newcastle have gone through two managers in the same period, and as they look to appoint a third, their fans crave the kind of leader Rovers have.

As a former Newcastle player, I really feel for the Toon Army because they are amazing supporters who deserve success.

But until Freddy brings the kind of stability to the club that Rovers are enjoying, which means appointing the right man for the job and then sticking with him for more than two years, I fear their long search for a trophy is set to continue.

As for Rovers, qualifying for Europe again would feel like winning another piece of silverware, particularly in a season where they have been beset by so many injury problems.