Ewood Beat

Muzzy is a Rovers no-go

BLACKBURN Rovers have cooled their interest in Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

Graeme Souness had a £500,000 bid turned down by the Foxes last week and the Rovers chief has now decided to switch his attention elsewhere.

"That's dead as far as we are concerned. We made an offer but they didn't think it was enough and we won't be going back," said Souness.

Sources close to the player have told me that Izzet has decided to see out the remainder of his contract with the Foxes anyway.

The Turkish international is set to become a free agent in the summer and if he stays where he is for the time being then he'll be in a better position to negotiate his own terms come the end of the season when any would-be suitors would not have to pay a transfer fee.

Sam's a top man -Souey

WHEN they come face-to-face with each other on the touchline, rival bosses Graeme Souness and Sam Allardyce are the fiercest of enemies.

But off the pitch, the Blackburn boss and his Bolton counterpart share a mutual respect for each other.

So no matter what the outcome of today's derby will be, Souness will offer his old pal a drink at five o'clock this afternoon.

"Sam is a very likeable human being. Forget that he's a football manager, if you met him in a pub or on holiday somewhere he's someone you could easily take to. He's a likeable big man.

"And if we could turn the clock back then I'm sure that both of us would love to take part in today's game."

Phone pest

I'VE never been afraid to use this column to name and shame rival journalists for any Press conference gaffes in the past.

So I guess it's only fair that I hold up my hand after being responsible for an embarrassing bloomer of my own yesterday.

As Graeme Souness waxed lyrical to the media about the game between Rovers and Bolton in yesterday's conference, his train of thought was suddenly rudely interrupted by a bizarre mobile phone ring-tone.

"Very good. Who was that?" enquired Souness, as he scanned the room.

"Put your hand up, come on."

Eventually, I had to admit my guilt as everyone in the room fell about laughing.

"Stand in the corner over there," quipped Souness, but I would have preferred it if the ground had opened up and swallowed me there and then!

BLACKBURN Rovers certainly have a habit for leaving it late in local derbies with Bolton Wanderers.

In the last two season, Craig Short and Dwight Yorke have both scored injury-time equalisers to earn their side a share of the spoils.

And in the season before that, another late goal from Lucas Neill earned Rovers a 1-1 draw at Ewood.

If it happens again today then manager Graeme Souness may struggle to contain his excitement and he's already apologised in advance!

Earlier this season, when Yorke grabbed an injury-time point-saver in a four-goal thriller at The Reebok, Souness raced half the length of the pitch to celebrate with his players by the corner flag.

"For a second I thought I was a player again. I'm like that at all games, to be honest, but I normally manage to keep it under control -- most of the time.

"My guard was down. That's me."

Short is a big signing

BLACKBURN Rovers fans can meet one of their heroes in the flesh at a special signing session this afternon.

Craig Short will be signing autographs in Rover the Moon before today's game against Bolton Wanderers.

So why not get that Rovers' Christmas present signed by the big man himself?

Craig will be in Rover the Moon, the club's official merchandise outlet, situated at the Blackburn End from 1.30 pm.