Hughes promised injection of funds to lift Blackburn

The Blackburn Rovers chief executive, John Williams, has indicated that the club's manager, Mark Hughes, will have some funds available to strengthen his squad when the transfer window opens in January.

However, Williams is anxious to stress that the days of the club having an open cheque book like they did when owner Jack Walker was alive are gone.

Hughes has endured a difficult start, with Blackburn facing Liverpool on Saturday lying bottom of the Premiership after successive 4-0 defeats against Middlesbrough and Chelsea.

He has already been linked with a number of players, and Williams said: "Mark will no doubt have his own ideas about strengthening the squad.

"We have a history here of trying to back our managers in the transfer market.

"We are not the club we were when Jack [Walker] was alive in the context of being able to spend freely. But we will do what we can.

"We have got to make sure we don't overstretch the club. It's been around since 1875 and it's our job to strike a balance.

"While we need to remain in the Premier League, it is important the club is around and alive and healthy from a financial sense for those who will inherit it in generations to come."