GRAEME Souness today revealed his secret weapon in the battle to combat the daily pressures of being a Premiership manager - his three-year-old son James!

Earlier this week, West Ham boss Glenn Roeder was rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pains following the Hammers' nailbiting victory over Middlesbrough.

Many critics were quick to claim that Roeder's condition was brought on by the stress of trying to keep the Londoners in the Premiership.

It's not so long ago that Souness, himself, underwent major heart surgery during his time as manager of Liverpool.

But, although the Rovers boss is brutally aware of the stress involved in managing at the highest level, he insists he steers well clear of that pressure thanks to the help of his family.

"The best way to avoid it is by trying to win as many games as possible," said Souness.

"But on a more serious note I think the longer you are in this game, the better equipped you become to dealing with the difficult times.

"It's like life itself. You try looking back on your experiences in the past and you rely on the people around you as well.

"I'm very fortunate as a manager because not many of them have young families, but I have a three-year-old son who quickly makes me forgot about the stresses of losing games and all the pressures that come with being a manager."

Meanwhile, the chances of Henning Berg being offered a new deal by Rovers are starting to look increasingly remote.

The Norwegian international recently indicated he is ready to postpone his retirement plans and play on for another year.

But his change of heart might have come too late for Souness who has already begun the search for a replacement, with Rangers' Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso at the top of his list.

"If Henning had come to me a month before then we wouldn't be talking to this other player now," said Souness.

Berg's u-turn came as a result of a delay in the building of his new house in Norway.

He was hoping it would be finished this summer but problems with planning permission have meant that it won't be ready now until after christmas.

Therefore, the former Manchester United star would consider an offer to play on for one more season, even if it means moving to another club.

"There hasn't been contact with anyone else because I haven't had time to think about it," said Berg.

"There are three more games of the season left and all I can do is try and do my best and see what happens.

"I may consider an offer to go somewhere else.

"But if this turns out to be my last season then I'm delighted with the way things have gone.

"I've been here 10 years now and I've probably played some of my best football this season."