Souness says: I'm no racist - November 29, 2000
Blackburn boss Graham Souness has angrily rejected suggestions - from kickin' as well as others - that he is operating an anti-Irish policy at the club.
When the former Rangers manager took over the reins at Ewood, there was a huge Irish contingent back-boning the first team.
Since then, however, Souness has relegated Lee Carsley, Jason McAteer and Jeff Kenna to the sidelines, more or less forced Alan Kelly out of the club (despite an admission that Kelly had performed well) and sent Irish u21 international Ben Burgess to Australia for a year!
Damien Duff is now the only Irishman in the team - but Souness is currently trying to buy Anderlecht and Holland winger Bart Goor!
Souness, it will be remembered, was the Liverpool manager who got rid of Steve Staunton, Ray Houghton and Ronnie Whelan.
Despite all this, Souness said yesterday: "This is absolute rubbish. These allegations have been made by somebody who is not happy at the way they have been treated."
Regarding the Liverpool trio, Souness claimed: "They all asked to leave, so the whole thing is nonsense."