BLACKBURN chairman John Williams has expressed his delight at drawing a big name' in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The Ewood Park side were matched against German giants Bayer Leverkusen, and will then face either Lens or Panathanaikos in the last 16 if they progress.

Williams, speaking after the draw in Switzerland, said just to be in the hat was a tremendous achievement for Rovers and for Mark Hughes, who will know about the Germans after the time he spent at Bayern Munich.

He said: "Firstly, we're just glad to be there. It's something we can really look forward to in the New Year.

"For us, still, it's about the pride and prestige of being in the competition but as we progress it can get interesting financially and can be lucrative.

"It's a big tie for us because they're a big club and it'll be a couple of big European nights for us."

The first leg at the BayArena, for which Rovers should be allocated about 1100 tickets, has yet to be finalised.

The club will find out on Monday if the tie is on February 14 or 15.

But the second leg at Ewood Park will be played on Thursday, February 22.

Williams is looking forward to getting back to winning ways in the Premiership this weekend at Reading, but has one eye on last 16 opponents Lens or Panathinaikos.

He added: "We're sending people out to Lens and Athens in case we get through.

"Today was a great day for the fans and the club but once we have everything finalised we need to put it on the back burner for a few weeks and try to climb the table."

Former Rovers star Kevin Gallacher reckons Blackburn have got a decent draw as Leverkusen aren't the force they once were.

He said: "At the draw, you'd hope for Zulte Waregem, Braga or Livorno but after that it would be Leverkusen.

"I was speaking to Murdo MacLeod, an expert of German football, and he said they're not as they used to be.

"The new coach is trying to rejuvenate them so Blackburn have got them at a good time.

"And if Rovers can get a few of their players back from injury, and maybe add a couple, there's no reason why they should't be looking to at least the quarter-finals."