ROTHERHAM United boss Steve Evans’ claim that Blackburn Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes is on £50,000 a week is ‘appalling’.

That was the verdict of upset Rovers boss Gary Bowyer following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Rotherham at the New York Stadium on Tuesday.

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On the morning of the match Evans was quoted as saying that Rhodes was ‘on 50 grand a week’ at Ewood Park.

The 24-year-old signed a new and improved contract with Rovers in the summer before he was the subject of a rejected club record bid from Premier League outfit Hull City in the final week of the transfer window.

But it is understood that Rhodes, who missed a great chance to take his tally for the term up to five on the night, is on nowhere near that amount.

It was a point Bowyer was keen to stress after the match.

He said: “The Rotherham manager’s quotes in the local paper about how much he (Rhodes) is supposedly on a week – it’s appalling from another manager to come out with that. It’s wrong. Jordan’s not on what he said.”

Evans, whose struggling side became the first to shut out Rovers in the Championship this season, had said: “Rhodes is a goal machine but if you’re probably worth 15-20 million quid and you earn 50 grand a week then you should be a goal machine in the Championship.

“He’s an outstanding young man.

“I know a number of Premier League sides have tried to buy young Jordan.”