New Blackburn boss Steve Kean has revealed he has stripped Chris Samba of the club captaincy after the defender expressed his desire to leave Ewood Park.

Samba missed today’s 2-0 home defeat to Stoke with an ankle injury and Kean said while he would have played if he had not failed a late test, he would not have worn the armband.

Kean said: “Christopher would have played but he wouldn’t have been captain because at the moment he is looking to possibly get away from the club.

”Until he can come back and say he is happy to stay I think we’ll look elsewhere in the club.

"He would have played but he failed a fitness test today.”