JUDAN Ali has been forced to deny he is set for a coaching role at Blackburn Rovers.

The 39-year-old youth coach has been at Rovers for the past two weeks, shadowing the coaches, and is understood to have been being considered for a role at the club in some capacity.

But, after a strong backlash from supporters, the move was put on hold and is now believed to be unlikely.

Ali said:"I've had no intentions of coaching here.

"It's for my personal development, observing how a professional club is operated and structured for elite players.

"I want to see how it compares with those I've been with in eastern Europe, in India and in the Caribbean.

"For me it's almost a once in a blue moon opportunity to be at a professional outfit such as Blackburn Rovers.

"I've not come here to look at the playing side of the business at all. It's to see how the club is, the facilities, the sports science.

"I've not come in to critique, judge or even take notes on how the training sessions are delivered by any members of the coaching team.'

"I'm not privy to any of this information. I don't have any input on the playing side of the club and I strictly can say that I'm being transparent.

"It's a time of volatility or controversy or whatever you want to call it and I happen to be at the centre of it all."