SUNDERLAND transfer target Jon Stead is set to sign for Blackburn Rovers today.

The big Huddersfield Town frontman, with 18 goals to his name this season, has long been in Mick McCarthy's sights.

But the 20-year-old was at Ewood Park to watch Rovers lose 3-2 to Chelsea yesterday.

And the lure of the Premiership appears to have swung the decision Blackburn's way.

Rovers' boss Graeme Souness lodged an improved bid over the weekend, offering £1m up front and Town have agreed to release their prize asset.

Meanwhile, referee Phil Prosser admitted he couldn't allow Sunderland's game with Preston to go ahead - because it would have been a farce.

The Stadium of Light game was called off around 90 minutes before kick-off and he said: "Player safety has to be paramount and that is why I called the game off.

"We had given the match every chance to go-ahead. We had the spiker on the pitch right up until I made the decision.

"I feel sorry for everyone who has travelled from Preston but I couldn't give the game the go-ahead knowing that it is likely to turn into a farce."

Prosser inspected the pitch at 11.15am and was satisfied with its condition. However, at 1.15pm following persistent rain Prosser asked the club to keep the turnstiles shut.

With no let up in conditions, he had little option but to postpone the game. Tickets purchased for the game will be valid for the re-arranged fixture.

* Neale Cooper had already finished his team talk on Saturday when Hartlepool United's game with Luton Town was called off.

Referee Frazer Stretton postponed Mike Newell's first return to his former club just before 1.50pm, with the Victoria Park pitch saturated and little sign of the rain easing off.

Stretton first looked at the conditions at 12.15 and made "regular routine checks" before becoming concerned almost 90 minutes later.

There were no pools of water on the pitch, but Stretton said: "It just filled up with water and the pitch couldn't take any more. I'm very disappointed."

Pool have spent over £250,000 in laying a pitch and installing a drainage system, but there were no complaints.

"So much effort has gone in this week to clear the pitch of snow and then the game is off because of the rain,'' said Cooper who admitted new signing Hugh Robertson would have made his debut. "We sorted one problem out and then another comes along. First it could have been off because of snow or frost and now it's waterlogged.

"There was no prior inspection before. When the referee arrived there was no problem, but as time went on it got worse.

"The players were changed and ready to go out for their warm up, I'd given the team talk. I walked out with them and was told the game was off.''

The clubs will be in contact today to try and arrange a new date for the tie.