BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Blackburn Rovers | Souness extends Blackburn stay

Graeme Souness has agreed a new four-year contract with Blackburn Rovers - and immediately insisted it would take "£20m plus" for him to even consider selling winger Damien Duff.

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The former Glasgow Rangers and Liverpool boss is now under contract until June 2006.

Souness said: "Coming to Rovers has proved an excellent move for me and I have enjoyed every minute.

Unless we get a ridiculous offer Damien will be playing for us next year and the year after

Rovers boss Graeme Souness

"This is a first-class club with a really bright future and the place I want to be.

"I had no hesitation in agreeing to sign a new contract."

Souness guided Rovers to promotion from Division One in his first full season and followed it up with a Worthington Cup triumph last term to earn the club a route back into Europe.

"We have made great strides to re-establish Blackburn Rovers as a Premiership club and the aim is for that to continue," added Rovers chief executive John Williams.

"To achieve our goals we need good management on and off the field, prudent financial planning and a strategy that encourages growth in our fan base.

"The football manager is key in all areas and we believe we have the right man in place.

"We have an excellent working relationship and when we sat down with Graeme to discuss a new extended contract it was clear that both parties wanted it to happen.

"But signing the contract is the easy part, the main thing is to continue to work in harness to make sure we see it through and deliver what is right for Blackburn Rovers.

Republic of Ireland and Blackburn winger Damien Duff
Duff is Rovers' prize asset

"There will be ups and downs, probably may of both, but in years to come we hope that people will look back at the `Souness era' as one of the most successful spells in the club's history."

Liverpool are one of several Premiership clubs interested in Republic of Ireland World Cup star Duff.

But Souness believes Duff is going nowhere unless Rovers receive a "ridiculous" offer.

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Souness said: "Unless we get a ridiculous offer he will be playing for us next year and the year after.

"We have had two offers but I would not blame clubs for making offers. He is a very good player.

"It is going to take £20m-plus. If Rio Ferdinand is worth that money (£30m) then it must be the same for Duff.

"Traditionally strikers who make and take goals bring in more money so maybe he (Duff) is worth more money."