GARY Bowyer has confirmed Blackburn Rovers owners Venky’s share his stance on not letting Jordan Rhodes leave on loan to a rival Championship club.

Rovers boss Bowyer told the Lancashire Telegraph: “They (Venky's) are of the same opinion as ourselves – why would we want to be doing that?”

Four Championship clubs, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City and Derby County, have expressed an interest in Rhodes, whose last-gasp winner in last night’s 1-0 home victory over Bolton Wanderers moved Rovers within 11 points of the play-offs.

But Forest boss Dougie Freedman this afternoon admitted his side have given up hope of signing the 14-goal striker.

Freedman told BBC Radio Nottingham: “I phoned Gary Bowyer and he was very open and honest with me saying Jordan was not going out on loan so that was the end of the conversation.

“There was a rumour in the game that he could be going out on loan and I’m a big admirer of Jordan so out of respect I phoned Gary.

“I spoke to him and said if that was to come up we’d be interested in loaning Jordan with a view to a permanent if we did go up and he just squashed it straight away.”