Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tugay today pledged his future to the club by revealing he wants to stay at Ewood Park for another season.

The 34-year-old's commitment to Rovers was brought into question earlier this week when stories emanating from Turkey claimed that he was ready to walk out.

But the former Rangers and Galatasaray star has angrily denied ever making those comments and he insists he wants to play a leading role under Mark Hughes over the next 18 months.

"I am a Rovers player and proud to be so and I want to be at Rovers next season as well - I cannot be clearer than that," said the Turk, whose current contract runs out at the end of the season - but he has an option for a further 12 months.

"I believe Blackburn are doing all the right things and we hope to get back to winning ways soon, we just need our luck to change.

"But my desire and love for Rovers has never been more."

The original article claimed Tugay had said that 'nobody wanted to play football' for Rovers anymore and there was disharmony in the dressing room following the departure of Graeme Souness.

But the former Turkish international insists nothing could be further from the truth and he has backed his old team-mate, Hughes, as the man to revive Rovers' flagging fortunes.

"I know Mark, having played with him. I was one of the senior players who endorsed him and said he would be an excellent choice.

"Mark is a true professional who I am sure will be successful as manager of Rovers.

"The atmosphere is good and the arrival of Mark and Eddie Niedzwiecki has brought us a new training regime which I am enjoying.

"I feel in great form and, prior to my sending off (against Middlesbrough on Saturday), things were going well for me."

Tugay is now considering taking legal action against the Turkish newspaper that printed the original article because he fears his reputation has been damaged in the eyes of Rovers fans, who had previously viewed him as a hero.

"I am very upset that since the game there have been comments attributed to me that I never made," said the midfielder.

"In fact I am taking legal advice in Turkey to have an apology printed in the offending newspaper.

"To set the record straight, I never mentioned Blackburn Rovers FC.

"I am very happy at Ewood Park and am doing my best -- as are the rest of the squad -- to support Mark Hughes and the new management team.

"Besiktas have not contacted me or my agents Galaxy Sports Management about a move.

"The journalist concerned asked me that if Besiktas were ever interested in me as a former Galatasaray player of 15 years, would it be a problem for me, to which I replied that it wouldn't.

"For those who don't know, Galatasaray and Besiktas are rivals like Arsenal and Tottenham."

In the meantime, Tugay will miss Rovers' trip to Chelsea on Saturday after picking up a one match ban as a result of his sending off against Boro.

The Turk was dismissed in the 30th minute of Saturday's 4-0 defeat for two bookable offences but he felt he was harshly treated by referee Mike Riley.

Tugay told his Icons website: "I was disappointed to get two bookings on Saturday, especially as I thought I was having a great game before being sent off.

"My first yellow card resulted from my hand going up instinctively like a reflex action. Only I know that, but the referee obviously thought it was intentional.

"With the second caution, there was no doubt I was late, but perhaps on another day the referee might have been more lenient given the harshness of the first card."