THE girlfriend of departing Blackburn Rovers star Phil Jones has come in for ferocious abuse on Twitter.

Kaya Hall was targeted as Jones’ protracted £16.5million transfer to Manchester United played out.

Kaya leapt to her man’s defence as fans lambasted the young defender, accusing him of being a sell-out.

One Blackburn supporter tweeted Kaya to say Chorley-born Jones was ‘not welcome in our town’.

She replied: “Well good job he doesn’t live, nor is from, your town then isn’t it!”

To another she said: “Why you running your mouth to me then!? I don’t care!

“Going on about legacys and stuff. You sound like you’re in lord of rings!”

In another tweet she wrote: “You are so so pathetic. I think even Jack Walker would be ashamed of the stuff you say.”

But a number of Rovers supporters leapt to Jones defence, ahead of his Old Trafford move.

Later Kaya posted: “Thank you to all the kind supportive people.

“It’s nice to know you outnumber the horrible abusive people who intend to be hurtful.”

In another post she added: “So proud of Phil Jones. You deserve so much and more.

“Best of luck at your new club.”

After joining Manchester United yesterday Jones posted: “I’d just like to start off by saying that I’ve loved my time at Blackburn and I will always be a huge fan.

“But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am looking forward to a new challenge.”

Jones has more than 22,000 followers on Twitter.