ALAN Shearer has revealed Jack Walker's personal reaction to intense interest from Manchester United in the Blackburn Rovers and England striker.

And, having thrown out a renewed inquiry from United, Mr Walker clearly aims to see Shearer lead a strengthened Rovers side - not sell him to their fiercest rivals.

Shearer, speaking just before leaving the UK for a well-deserved holiday after his heroics at Euro 96, has always been close to the man who took control of the club in January 1991 and saw them lift the championship just over four years later.

That clearly hasn't changed as Shearer said: "My relationship with Jack Walker is as strong as it has always been.

"He has personally telephoned me to say there has been an interest from other clubs but he has rejected their inquiries.

"He has told me that Blackburn want to buy players not sell them."

Mr Walker obviously felt the need to intervene personally, following all the hype in the national media that mega deals had already been done.

The facts are that Manchester United made inquiries some time ago and were turned away in no uncertain terms.

Yesterday, Old Trafford chairman Martin Edwards made another inquiry and received the same unyielding response - nothing doing.

And United boss Alex Ferguson seemed to suggest today that any potential developments in the situation were now down to Rovers. If things are as simple as that, then I can tell him now. There won't be any.

Ferguson said: "The chairman has made inquiries and there has been no joy. We have pursued our interest and it's now in Blackburn's court."

Rovers are sticking to their guns with chairman Robert Coar admitting there had been a further inquiry from United.

But he added: "We have said to them he is simply not for sale."

As I have said before, despite what the national newspapers claim, no deal has been struck between the two clubs.

And I have no doubts - as illustrated by Mr Walker's recent comments and his call to Shearer - that Rovers have no intention of setting one up this summer.

The crucial element, of course, will be the player's attitude on his return.

Speculation can be unsettling but Shearer has shown no signs of that and the important thing could be for the club to show that their ambitions will match his own.

From what Shearer has said today, Mr Walker seems to have told him just that.

Meanwhile, new Birmingham boss Trevor Francis was due back from holiday today and that could lead to an attempt to revive their bid for another Ewood striker Mike Newell.

The First Division club first showed an interest in Newell a couple of weeks ago and have also been chasing Jean-Pierre Papin.

Francis wants two new strikers to spearhead their bid for promotion.

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