Souness asks for more funds

Graeme Souness is asking the Blackburn Rovers board to give him the money he needs or face the financial disaster of relegation.

Souness's attempts to sign Muzzy Izzet and Javier De Pedro - plus a possible return for Chris Sutton - were put in doubt by a lack of funds. He has had a £500,000 bid for Izzet rejected by Leicester, and Rovers will not provide a loan fee for theReal Sociedad winger De Pedro.

"I have not got much money to spend, so it's going to be difficult," Souness said. "I am being quite forceful with the board because I feel we really need to strengthen. We have had one bid turned down for Muzzy Izzet. I would pay more to buy him - or I would if I had the money to spend. We know what the consequences are if the very worst happens."

Blackburn have signed the Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman for an undisclosed fee, but Jay McEveley will be out for three months after dislocating his knee on loan at Burnley.