JEFF KENNA was in the shop window when he played for Rovers reserves at Everton on Tuesday night and the club is ready to help a loyal servant should any clubs follow up their interest in him.

Rovers chief executive John Williams said this morning: "Jeff owes this club nothing and we won't stand in the way of him getting a contract from someone else.

"We have had a couple of clubs who have enquired about him and I know that there were a few people watching him play for the reserves the other night.

"But it would be unfair to mention any names of clubs at this stage.

"Jeff is in the last year of his contract and he has been a really excellent servant of the club. The board has decided that it will show its gratitude by helping him if he can find another club.

"He has not been helped by the fact that we have not had many reserve games for him to show what he can do but I understand he played very well the other night."

It was in March of the Premiership winning 1995 season that Rovers boss Kenny Dalglish paid Southampton £1.5million for the Republic of Ireland international and he has gone on to play 155 league games for the club.

But Kenna, the longest serving member of the first team squad, has not started for the first team since December of last year and is out of contract in the summer. Late season he had a spell on loan at Tranmere Rovers.

Kenna, who is still only 31, has won 27 full caps for the Republic of Ireland but if he is to have any chance of forcing his way back into the squad he will need to play regular first team football. New Derby boss Colin Todd is one man thought to monitoring his situation and Kenna will be back in action for the reserves next week.

One player that will not be leaving Ewood Park is talented young midfielder Damien Johnson. As revealed last week by the Evening Telegraph he is to be offered a new contract by manager Graeme Souness.

"We will be sitting down with Damien and sorting out a new deal around Christmas," said Williams.

The 22-year-old has been impressive in recent weeks with a run of six successive starts.