BLACKBURN Rovers' chief executive John Williams today called on supporters to throw their full weight behind the club's European campaign.

Rovers face the daunting prospect of having to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their UEFA Cup first round tie with Genclerbirligi next Wednesday.

But Williams believes anything is possible if the Blackburn public get behind Graeme Souness and his players in significant numbers at Ewood on the night.

"We really need our fans to get behind us for this one," said Williams.

"This is a very important match for the club and we don't want to end up playing the game in front of a half-empty stadium.

"We worked tremendously hard over 38 games last season to get ourselves into this position and it would be a shame to throw it all away now.

"We desperately need a win in order to progress beyond the first round but for that to happen, the backing of the fans is abolsutely crucial.

"I'm urging people to come down and create an atmosphere on the night because it helps to lift the players."

Although Rovers trail 3-1 from the first leg, the club are convinced they can still turn things around after snatching a vital away goal in Turkey two weeks ago.

On top of that, they have also slashed ticket prices for the game in order to boost the 'gate' on the night.

Season ticket holders can watch the match for a fiver while fans paying on the night will only pay £10.

Genclerbirligi normally attract around 4,000 to an average home game but their fans came out in force to support them in the first leg as a near-capacity 19,000 cheered them to victory.

Meanwhile, Rovers midfielder Barry Ferguson is a doubt for Scotland's Euro 2004 qualifier against Lithuania on Saturday after missing training yesterday as a result of a stomach bug.

The Scots need to win to keep their dreams of qualifying for Euro 2004 alive and Ferguson is arguably their most influential player.

Elsewhere, Julian Gray -- the winger who recently spent a week on trial with Rovers -- has launched a veiled attack on Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Gray returned to Palace recently on a week-by-week contract after Graeme Souness decided against signing him.

And the 23-year-old wide-man has criticised Jordan for the way he has handled the whole affair.

"I don't see that there's anything wrong with me trying to better myself and test myself in the Premiership," said Gray, responding to recent criticism from Jordan about him leaving in the first place.