Souness insists he will stay at Blackburn

Graeme Souness is sticking with Blackburn Rovers despite renewed talk of a move from Tottenham Hotspur to make him their new manager.

Souness has seen his side slump in the Premiership and go out of Europe since the Spurs post became available, but his resolve to remain at Rovers is just as strong.

The Blackburn boss is irritated by the rumours and knows he is out of the running because of his initial reluctance to be considered when Glenn Hoddle was sacked.

Even a poor set of results has not changed that view and Souness said: "I have got my hands full here, I come to work every day and the Ribble Valley is as good as it gets in this country at this time of year. I am very privileged.

"I have not even thought about the Spurs job. Until somebody says to me there is an offer and you can go to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Rochdale it is not an issue. It does not affect me, all I concentrate on is trying to win games here. Nothing has changed."

Meanwhile Souness has told Dwight Yorke to grin and bear it after being dropped and left behind Ciccio Grabbi in the Blackburn striker's pecking order. Yorke is unlikely to be recalled against Charlton on Monday with Andy Cole set to recover from a neck injury and the former Manchester United star may be sold when the transfer window opens.

Souness said: "I don't think any player is happy about being out of the eleven, but I judge them by what I see in training and on match days.

"I don't think any of the strikers - apart from Andy Cole - can be guaranteed places on the way they have played this season."