Souness plays down Ewood rift

BLACKBURN manager Graeme Souness has played down rumours of a rift between himself and Rovers chief executive John Williams.

Speaking after his side's comfortable 4-0 win over Fulham, Souness denied that he and Williams were at loggerheads over the future of some of his squad - particularly Damien Duff.

"It is somebody making mischief," Souness said of reports suggesting their was a rift at Ewood Park.

"I have a great board of directors and have a great relationship with John Williams."

Souness again did admit that they might be forced to sell Duff if a suitable offer came in.

"If somebody comes with the right cash for Damien or anyone then we have to be realistic, but we have to see what happens," he said.

"We have a budget to work with at the club and we need to work within that."

The former Liverpool coach also took time to pay tribute to Hakan Sukur, whose brace inspired his side to victory at Loftus Road.

"He is capable of scoring any type of goal," he said.

"He is good in the air and has great movement, as you saw tonight.

"He is so aware and I thought he and Andy Cole linked up really well.

"He had a hernia when he arrived and we hoped to get away with it, he had two operations and it will only be in the last two of three games he will show his best.

"But I have worked with him in the past and I know what he can do."

Sukur himself was happy to get off the mark in The Premiership.

"I am delighted with that," he said.

"All the team worked hard, it was a good game for us and I was really happy.

"I have been injured a lot, but now I am very happy and next time I will do even better."