Blackburn Rovers today angrily denied speculation linking Sunderland boss Peter Reid with a dramatic move to Ewood at the end of the season.

A national newspaper story over the weekend suggested Rovers were prepared to treble Reid's wages in a bid to lure him away from the Stadium of Light in the summer.

But chief executive John Williams today dismissed that report, insisting current boss Tony Parkes has the full backing of the Ewood board.

"The managerial situation at Blackburn Rovers has not changed," said Williams.

"Tony Parkes and the team are doing a fantastic job and they are already beginning to fulfil our expectations for the season.

"Since Tony was appointed, there has never been any meetings between Jack Walker and the board to discuss the manager's situation.

"Tony Parkes has the full backing of the board and we are delighted with the job he is doing.

"The managerial situation at the end of the season is simply not on our agenda.

"All our energies are focused on the job in hand which is to gain promotion.

"And Tony's results speak for themselves."

Reid was among a host of names linked with the post following Brian Kidd's dismissal in November.

And the fact Rovers have only named Parkes as manager until the end of the season, leaves the club open to this kind of speculation.

It is not out of the question that Rovers talked about longer term agreements with Reid during an initial approach following Kidd's dismissal. But Sunderland have also dismissed the story and issued a short statement of their own today.

"The situation has not changed and the club will not be drawn into speculation," said a Sunderland spokesman.

Meanwhile, Rovers' promotion bandwagon gathered momentum at the weekend following the 2-0 victory over Huddersfield.

The Ewood outfit are now one point off the play off places with a game in hand on some of their rivals.

But their latest coup came at a price with keeper John Filan now set to face surgery on his troublesome shoulder injury.

Filan got injured punching clear a first half cross and had to be replaced by Alan Kelly.

And the club now feel it's time for the Aussie to undergo the operation he's been putting off over the last few weeks.

That could mean Rovers may now go back into the transfer market for some cover with Birmingham keeper Ian Bennett touted as a possible target.

"I think John Filan is likely to have his surgery now - that's always been the intention anyway," said Parkes.

"So with what happened on Saturday, we'll probably bring that forward now and we might have to look for a another keeper."

Promising young striker Gary Hamilton has signed a one year extension to his current contract which will keep him at Ewood until the end of next season.

Rovers have signed John Fitzgerald, the skipper of the Republic of Ireland under 15s. He has been on trial at all the top clubs and was a target for Manchester United. Fitzgerald was at the game on Saturday and has been labelled the 'Joe Cole of Irish football'.

The Under 17s beat Bolton 3-1 at Brockhall over the weekend thanks to a double salvo from Neil Danns.

Danns scored twice in the first half, on eight and 38 minutes, before Jonathan Walters wrapped things up with a third five minutes from time.

The Under 19s were without a game.

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