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Jason Roberts 'not for sale' says Blackburn Rovers chairman

10:38am Wednesday 16th April 2008

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ROVERS chairman John Williams has said any approach for Jason Roberts would be unwelcome - insisting he is part of manager Mark Hughes' plans.

His comments follows speculation in several national newspapers yesterday linking the Blackburn striker with a summer move out of Ewood Park.

Reports suggested Derby have earmarked Roberts as the man to fire the Rams back into the Premier League next season, while Sunderland and Bolton are believed to be monitoring the 30-year-old's situation.

But Williams is not preprared to entertain bids for the Grenadan international, who has started Blackburn's last five Premier League matches after previously enduring an unsettled period at the club.

"Jason's been on a good run of late and, as far as I'm concerned, he will be with us at the start of next season," said the Rovers chairman.

"Certainly at the moment, he's not for sale and we won't be entertaining any approaches for him.

"We are not in the process of wanting to lose our best players and Jason comes into that category."

Roberts has cut a frustrated figure at times this season, due to his lack of Premier League starts and also struggling with a groin injury.

At one stage, the former Wigan marksman was so disillusioned with life on the substitutes' bench that he submitted a transfer request, which was rejected by Hughes and the Blackburn board.

But he is now enjoying a run of starts for Rovers, and Hughes recently reassured Roberts that he had no plans to sell him this summer, saying: "No-one was ever trying to force Jason Roberts out of the door.

"He's still very much part of what we are trying to do here. I think (his transfer request) was borne out of frustration."

Roberts will hope to maintain his place alongside Roque Santa Cruz against Manchester United this Saturday as Rovers face a make-or-break final four games in their quest for Europe.

Blackburn's bid for an Intertoto Cup spot is hanging by a thread following last Sunday's disappointing 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.

But Roberts - who was denied a goal at Anfield after wrongly being flagged offside - admits it is still all to play for.

"We've all got a huge incentive to do well," he said.

"We all want to stay in the team and have a good run until the end of the season.

"We want to finish as high up the table as possible.

"From our point of view, there is a lot of motivation for us to go out there and do well, and we are looking forward to Manchester United.

"We've got four games to go and we've got to remain focused, try and give everything and hopefully bring some points, especially at home."

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Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph

Jay, London says...
10:42am Wed 16 Apr 08

Michael Tonge? I think we should be looking for CM with a bit more technical ability than Tonge. As for Roberts, keep him unless the money is too good to turn down. I'd say £5m and you can have him!

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trev, manchester says...
11:21am Wed 16 Apr 08

Meanwhile, Rovers have rubbished rumours linking them with a summer move for Sheffield United's £3million-rated midfielder Michael Tonge.

thank god for that!

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Michael, Darwen says...
11:52am Wed 16 Apr 08

Don't believe a word of this, Roberts is only in the team in the hope that he will score a few goals from now until the end of the season so his value will go up a bit...Hope they do sell him not a very good striker to slow

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Rover the Top, says...
11:55am Wed 16 Apr 08

Roberts is too slow? Are you sure you know who you are talking about?

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Michael, Darwen says...
12:29pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Yeah course I know what I am talking about, he is crap he has the pace of a slug.....really hope Hughes comes to his senses this week and starts McCarthy with Santa. Sooner Roberts goes the better

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joe, chester says...
12:41pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Michael wrote:
Yeah course I know what I am talking about, he is crap he has the pace of a slug.....really hope Hughes comes to his senses this week and starts McCarthy with Santa. Sooner Roberts goes the better
haha you are a clown? sure you arent talking about pedersen not roberts? roberts is arguably our quickest player?

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cal, chorley says...
12:42pm Wed 16 Apr 08

compared to beni roberts is a speed demon he may have less technical ability but he is a very effective player especially coming on as a sub. He isn't our best forward but he has decent attributes which I think only a relatively high bid could shift him out of Hughes plans

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Trev, manchester says...
12:48pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Bravely said Michael but your talkin out your arse, you only had to see his winner away at Bolton, pace and power!

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Ully, Blackburn says...
4:30pm Wed 16 Apr 08

and deflections.....so Roberts is staying now along with Benni, so next season all the pressure will remain with Santa Cruz who has performed mircles considerin his knees are'nt so clever! I can't see beyound the new bridge in Blackburn Town Centre me....but surely this is NOT progressive as far as what is so needed for next season!!

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Robbie, Manchester says...
4:36pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Roberts is quality and I'm delighted that we are keeping him. Michael from Darwen is a pathetic excuse for a Rovers fan.

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realist, ossy says...
4:59pm Wed 16 Apr 08

i can't understand this!!!!!!!!!!!
the only person who thinks roberts is a good player,is jason roberts.....
he's an average prem player at his best,which this season as been 2 or 3 games.....

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Woody Riversider, Blackburn says...
5:06pm Wed 16 Apr 08

I'll stick my neck on the line here & say I dont think Roberts will be here next season.

Roberts is an impact player & not really a regular starter if BRFC seriously want to challenge for the top six.

Bennie AS to come good next season with Cruz carrying forward his good form of this season to have any chance of a euro place.

Roberts as the attributes mentioned above but are they good enough to take us to were we wanna be,or should I say MH wishes to be?

I think MH will be looking to add another proven striker in the summer,simply because I see Roberts leaving?

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Arte Et Labore, Blackburn says...
6:01pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Just to state, Jason Roberts is the fastest player based on 100m sprint at Blackburn Rovers FC in the first team senior squad. (the most accurate way of measuring acceleration and speed is the 100m sprint). This is in response to what Michael earlier stated. I work on behalf of Opta Index and I am a Blackburn Rovers supporter; I have just looked into the records. His post is not at all accurate.

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Rovers girl, Blackburn says...
6:33pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Hi, is there anyone on facebook? x

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Rovers girl, Blackburn says...
8:24pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Rovers girl wrote:
Hi, is there anyone on facebook? x
OIII...WHY THE F****** DO YOU KEEP USING MY NAME CAN YOU NOT THINK OF YOUR OWN????

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Rovers girl, Blackburn says...
8:25pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Rovers girl wrote:
Hi, is there anyone on facebook? x
OIII...WHY THE F****** DO YOU KEEP USING MY NAME CAN YOU NOT THINK OF YOUR OWN????

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Bburn lad, Blackburn says...
9:07pm Wed 16 Apr 08

Jason Roberts is a far better player than benni simply because he is not a lazy c**t. Sell benni, keep roberts, use the money on another top quality forward. Simple really!

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JCB, Blackburn says...
7:50am Thu 17 Apr 08

I think Roberts will go in the summer.
He knows hat next season he will be playing second fiddle to Cruz and Lazy McCarthy.
What JW and MH are doing is assessing how much they will have to spend beforethey put him up for sale.
Roberts will more likelly be used in some form of exchange for a player.
Our problem next season is wages.
We are the only Prem club who had a wage cap, its going to be hard to persuade players who want a good wage to come here.
The other news that im sure some have you have read is that Michael Bradley is wanted by Everton, who will be in Europe next season so we can kiss goodbye to him.

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removals R me, my front room says...
1:34am Fri 18 Apr 08

there all rubbish at deadwood.

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Arthur Slater (Arturo), aspull says...
9:43am Fri 18 Apr 08

I agree with most of the adverse comments re JR. He was a 'flash in the pan' for a short spell at Wigan ! A bustler,poor'diver',

seems to play with no studs in footwear,and very clumsy.As Robbie of Manchester wrote,JR is a 'Quality' player,in the category 'Poor verging on 'Average'!
Get rid,along with Benni(Hill)and the lumbering
(wooden)Centre Half.
Do 'Rovers' still have an Academy? What happened to the Youths who showed up so well 3/4 years ago?

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lee1, blackburn says...
12:55pm Tue 22 Apr 08

roberts should definately go, as should mccarthy... both have expressed desires to over this past season so MH grant their wishes and cash in on them. Neither player has actually added anything to our campaign, most of our goals have come from santa cruz! if rovers really want to be a top 6 side, its about time MH spent at least 10 - 15 million on a couple of players who will win us games! we need a striker and two midfielders! thats anticipating the departure of roberts,mccarthy and bentley!

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