CHIEF executive John Williams today defended Blackburn Rovers' decision to turn down David Dunn's transfer request - even though other players seem likely to be leaving Ewood in the near future.

"Selling David would be against everything we are trying to achieve," he said.

"He has come through the ranks and the Academy is the bedrock of the club's strategy. It is the key to the way forward.

"I don't want David to be seen as a victim in this, because he is not. But he does represent everything we are aiming for with the Academy.

"We do not cross the line with our managers, they make the football decisions. Once the manager decides that David Dunn is in his plans and a player with a future, which he did, then he becomes very important to us.

"Of course, players from the Academy will be sold, when the manager of the time feels they are not going to be in his plans.

"And it has to be funded. It cost £7 million capital to build and £2 million a year to run.

"But it is the club's future."

Dunn, one of six or seven players fighting for just two central midfield positions on an overcrowded playing staff, felt he had to leave to get his career moving.

But Rovers are clearly preparing to sell others to make the squad more manageable.

Williams pointed out that Brian Kidd had been looking at starting to sell some players who were surplus to requirements just before he left.

"Tony said exactly the same on taking over - that we had too many players," added Williams.

"We are a town club and the town needs its local heroes.

"It needs lads who have come through the junior ranks.

"In some respects I would have liked to have kept Keith Brown but the football manager said he was prepared to let him go, so that was that.

"Jack Walker and the board don't interfere in those things. We never cross that line."

Although there are going to be departures, Williams stressed that Mr Walker was, by nature, a buyer rather than a seller and it was not a case of having to sell to balance the books.

Meanwhile, Rovers are preparing for Saturday's home game against West Bromwich Albion.

With two home games coming up, against Albion and Norwich (Tuesday), they have a chance of climbing back into the chase for play-off places.

Hopefully, Damien Duff will be back in contention after missing the Stockport game with a viral infection.

Albion are in the process of signing midfielder Clint Marcelle from Barnsley until the end of the season. But the Trinidad and Tobago player's availability for Saturday will depend on whether Albion can get his international clearance.

Keith Gillespie and Damien Johnson both started Northern Ireland's 3-1 win in Luxembourg before being replaced near the end and they shared in the build-up to David Healy's first debut goal.

The Republic of Ireland had Alan Kelly in goal for their 3-2 win over the Czech Republic. Jason McAteer went on as a substitute at the start of the second half, replacing Mark Kennedy.

In Qatar, Nathan Blake played as a lone striker for Wales, who won 1-0.

Coventry were hopeful of completing a deal for Colin Hendry today. The 34-year-old defender was expected to sign a two-and-a-half year deal, with the transfer fee dependent on appearances.

Chairman Bryan Richardson said: "I think we are very close to reaching an agreement with him."

"He's a fine, fine player with a great record and will be a great asset to the club. There was no point messing around with a loan, we thought it was best for everybody to make it a permanent deal.

"We probably need some real quality at the back in terms of leadership, strength and aerial quality as well and you have only got to look at Colin's record over the last 10 years to realise what an incredible player he is."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.