Blackburn Rovers today angrily denied reports that Jack Walker had taken manager Ray Harford to task over the David Batty transfer saga.

The England midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to league leaders Newcastle United.

But with Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan away in Italy to sign Columbian striker Faustino Asprilla for £6.7m, there has been no apparent progress on the Batty front.

Rovers will want substantially more than the £3 million reportedly offered by the Geordies for such an influential player.

Stories in national newspapers suggested Mr Walker had intervened to block the deal.

Those reports, however, might turn out to be a smokescreen from Newcastle to explain the apparent stalemate.

But Ewood chairman Rob Coar blasted: "Nobody has rapped anybody's knuckles. It is absolute rubbish."

Rovers have repeatedly stated that there is no pressure to sell any players.

It appears, though, that the Batty situation may have reached the point of no return.

The player was seen leaving the Brockhall training ground early on Friday morning but was not at Ewood on Saturday for the game against Sheffield Wednesday. And he has not been seen around the club since that game.

I understand Batty believes he has no long-term future in Harford's current tactical plans. So developments are likely in the near future, with Newcastle sources insisting that another major signing at St James' Park is imminent.

Rovers Reserves take on Sheffield Wednesday at Deepdale tonight (kick-off 7pm). The squad is: Mimms, Gill, Whealing, McKinlay, Marker, Broomes, Fenton, Holmes, Warhurst, Gudmundsson, Wilcox, Coughlan, McCrone, Hitchen.

Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Nicky Butt are set to miss Rovers' game at Old Trafford next month.

Neville has topped 21 disciplinary points and is set for a two-match ban imposed from Monday week, while Butt's dismissal at West Ham is likely to leave him with a one-match suspension - unless an appeal is successful.

That would start against Rovers if United are not involved in a fourth round FA Cup replay.

Blackburn Rovers face a Lancashire Youth Cup semi-final against Preston North End at Deepdale. In the other semi-final, Tranmere, 4-1 conquerors of Burnley last night, play either Oldham Athletic or Manchester United at Prenton Park. Ties to be played before March 6.

Notts County have switched their Pontins League clash against Blackburn Rovers at Meadow Lane to Wednesday, March 20 on police advice. The original date clashes with Nottingham Forest's big UEFA Cup tie against Bayern Munich at the City Ground

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