THE PFA have issued a statement defending Morten Gamst Pedersen after comments made by Blackburn Rovers global advisor Shebby Singh on Saturday.

Singh likened Pedersen to 'a pensioner' at an open meeting with fans but has since apologised.

The PFA, however, were not satisfied with Singh's apology - confirming that many Rovers players were upset by the initial comments.

A statement read: "The PFA have been in discussions with the players at Blackburn Rovers in relation to the recent comments made by Shebby Singh.

"We share their considerable disappointment that anyone connected to Blackburn Rovers would make such disrespectful comments about a player like Morten Gamst Pedersen.

"The feeling within the squad is that as a group of players they support each other but particularly someone like Morten who is so respected within the club and indeed the game.

"Personal criticism of this nature is never acceptable and the players are shocked that someone from within their club has seen fit to make such comments.

"Whilst accepting that anyone can have an opinion on football, someone in such a position of responsibility should be more mindful of the comments he makes particularly when you consider what a valuable member of the team Morten is and the great contribution he has made and continues to make to Blackburn Rovers and Norway.

"Any comments that are made should be based on fact, and it is our understanding that the club’s statistics on Prozone over the last season completely disproves any such uninformed views.

"He should be mindful of bringing the game and the club into disrepute and being completely disrespectful to a player who has served Blackburn Rovers with distinction during his eight-year career representing the club in 260 matches and scoring 34 goals.

"The situation has not been helped by the subsequent apology which didn't seem to retract the comments, rather Mr Singh simply implied he was ‘too honest for his own good’.

"The PFA are very concerned about this situation and naturally we are fully supportive of Morten and the other players at Blackburn Rovers."

Steve Kean and Danny Murphy have this afternoon spoken out and defended the players’ stance over the PFA statement.

“That’s the first I’ve heard about the statement,” said Kean. “It shows the players are together and look out for each other.”

“The comments were unwanted and ill-timed and the players were upset about comments on of their own.”

Murphy said: “It’s just something you don’t want. It was ill-advised and should just not have been said. We need everyone together, and that is why we have come out to defend one of our team-mates.”