ROVERS skipper Garry Flitcroft today said an emotional 'thank-you' for fans' backing during the most difficult time in his life -- and revealed he and his wife wanted to get on with their lives together.

In an exclusive interview with the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, the 28-year-old midfielder broke his silence for the first time since national newspaper stories saying he had two separate affairs threatened to destroy his marriage.

He said his relationship with wife Karen had survived the turmoil and said people had only heard one side of the story.

The former England Under 21 international, who spent months trying to conceal his identity in a High Court battle with the Sunday People, insisted he was now putting his life back together thanks to the help of the Blackburn public.

He also quashed fresh stories in national newspapers over the weekend which claimed he could be ready to walk out on Rovers at the end of the season because of an alleged fall-out with manager Graeme Souness.

Flitcroft, who lives in Bolton, said he had been 'touched' by an avalanche of heart-warming letters from Rovers fans offering their support since the allegations first surfaced.

"I want to say a big thank-you to the fans for the way they've stood by me over the last few weeks," said Flitcroft.

"The last month or so has been very difficult for me and my family because of all the stuff that's been written in the papers but the fans have helped me through it and I really appreciate their support.

"The day the stories first appeared they really got behind me at Leicester and I was touched by the way they responded, with banners in the crowd and everything like that.

"I've also had loads of letters of support which has meant a lot to me, too.

"At the end of the day, people have only heard one side of the story in the papers so they don't know the full truth.

"I could have said more at the time but I felt it was in my family's best interests to keep quite and protect them from even more publicity."

"Only me, my family, my close friends and the manager know that and exactly what I've been through but that's how I want it to stay because I want to move on now and put this all behind me.

"Everything's all right at home and I just want to concentrate on playing my football againso I appreciate the fact that Blackburn fans haven't judged me on the strength of what they've read in the Press."

Flitcroft has barely played in Rovers' first team since the stories first broke after Souness took the decision to take his skipper out of the firing line.

But the former Manchester City star vehemently denied stories of a bust-up between the pair, even though he admitted he did speak to the manager last week to discuss the situation.

"It is true that I've had a chat with the manager because I wasn't happy at being left out of the team but everyone at the club has been really supportive, especially him," said Flitcroft.

"Ever since he's been at the club the manager has been as good as gold with me and he made me captain, which is a fantastic honour,

"So the only reason I went in to see him was due to the fact that I have already missed 16 months of my career through injury and every game is precious to me.

"I didn't want to be sitting on the bench when I felt I didn't deserve it."

"Initially, I think he thought I needed a break because he felt all the hassle with the Press was starting to take a lot out of me.

"But I've felt fine over the last couple of weeks so I went in to see him and we've sorted it all out and I'm just looking forward to next season now, especially now that we've secured our place in the Premiership and we've also got Europe to look forward to."

Flitcroft started his £200,000 court action to gag the Sunday People almost a year ago.

Then, in a landmark ruling last September, High Court judge Mr Justice Jack ruled that the laws of confidentiality could apply to relationships outside marriage and ordered that the People newspaper should be barred from reporting the "kiss-and-tell stories" about Flitcroft.

The People appealed and a series of legal arguments took place.

Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, and two other top judges, heard the appeal on March 11 and ruled that granting an injunction would be "an unjustified interference with the freedom of the Press."

However after Lord Woolf's ruling the player was given three weeks' grace to convince the Law Lords they should hear his case.

His lawyers unsuccessfully applied to the judges for that injunction to be extended.

At the stroke of midnight on March 30, he was eventually named.