DEFIANT Ray Harford told Blackburn Rovers fans today: "We're not a selling club."

Tabloid reports have linked Colin Hendry, Graeme Le Saux and Tim Flowers to moves away from Ewood Park this week.

But Harford rapped: "The national newspapers are trying to make us out to be a selling club. It is just not true.

"We've seen Tim, Colin and Graeme all linked to transfers but we've absolutely NO intention of selling our best players.

"I must admit it may have looked that way after we lost David Batty and Alan Shearer.

"The biggest problem was David Batty leaving. Jack (Walker) and the directors were particularly adamant that we shouldn't sell him because it would appear we were a selling club."

Harford added: "We have to accept that we are a very high-profile club now. We are the target for constant transfer speculation and scandal.

"Times are difficult at present. We've gone from Premiership champions 18 months ago to bottom of the league. That's a sad indictment. "But my honest opinion is that the club is stronger staff-wise and personnel-wise than it was 12 months ago.

"Despite what has happened this season there is still a great togetherness within the club."

Rovers will go searching for their first Premiership win of the season against Arsenal at Ewood on Saturday - a fixture Harford hopes will be a turning point in a so far dismal campaign.

He added: "We've seen a complete reversal in our fortunes. While the players' spirit is quite good confidence is waning.

"Last season we were winning games at home and not playing particularly well.

"So far our home form has been awful. That's for many reasons. We're playing catch-up football from the loss of Alan Shearer.

"When Alan left, everybody was asking who's going to score the goals. But it's a case of who's going to stop the opposition scoring. "We've conceded goals for fun at home and we've looked paperweight in defence. It's a different problem every time.

"Away from home we've done all right. The away games have given me comfort. We played ever so well at Manchester United and we also performed well at Newcastle."

The clash against Liverpool at Ewood on Sunday, November 3 (3pm) is an all-ticket affair. NO tickets will be on sale on the day of the game.

Tickets go on sale from next Monday (Oct 14) to supporters providing a ticket stub from either Arsenal, Derby, Leeds or Tottenham (1 stub, 1 ticket), maximum purchase FOUR tickets per application.

Demand for tickets will be high so Rovers supporters are recommended not to leave it too late and purchase tickets before October 26 to ensure that they get their seats.

Tickets for the game at Chelsea on Saturday, November 16 are to go on open sale from next Monday.

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