We Were Never In Any Position To Sell Santa Cruz

Blackburn were never in a position where they could sanction a deal to let Roque Santa Cruz go.

Rovers could never find the same quality of replacement at all during the January window and in the end Rovers are in the best position they could be - with the squad still intact.

Big Sam, speaking to Sky Sports said, 'More often than not the player probably gets his own way but in the position we were in it was impossible to agree to that, so we stood firm.'

'The most important thing was keeping a squad together that's a very good and tight-knit squad. I wanted to keep that unity and myself and [chairman] John Williams worked so hard in this window to make sure we resisted any bids from anybody. We're really pleased that we've managed to do that to help us secure, as quickly as possible, our Premier League status for another season.'

I think the fact that the January window is now closed will be a massive relief to all at the club. Rovers' players are always linked away from the club but the time has come and gone and they are all still here.

Now, lets get safe...

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.