Warnock: Hit out

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Blackburn Rovers' Stephen Warnock has hit out after the latest story of unrest at Ewood Park.

The defender insists Chilean Carlos Villanueva is happy at the club, contrary to claims which first surfaced in South American.

This latest report of strife comes after claims that players were unhappy when new boss Paul Ince first took over from Mark Hughes in the summer.

Speculation reached fever-pitch when England international David Bentley left for Spurs and keeper Brad Friedel went to Aston Villa.

But Warnock insists the two players left for perfectly legitimate reasons and that all is well at Blackburn.

Very happy

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "If you look at Carlos every day, he looks very happy and is getting to know the lads and is a good character to have around the place.

"That is the thing isn't it? Where do these stories come from?

"I really don't know why all this has happened. One problem was that people were already jumping on the manager because he didn't have his coaching badges and things.

"The club became a bit of a target, which was out of order on the club because I think the manager has agreed to do his badges and the press still jump on it.

"I think it is just one of those things. You can't do anything about it. The national press pick what they want to write and will stick with it as long as they can - it doesn't seem to matter if it is true."

He added: "When you have a couple of big name players leave, as in Brad and Bents then I think people will look to see if there is unrest.

"But they were decisions made purely on the money that was made for David and it was a stage in Brad's career where he felt he needed a new challenge.

"He had a very good club come in for him and probably the money offered was perfect for him.

"I think perhaps people jumped on the bandwagon and think that players are for sale and players want to leave but that wasn't the case and never has been.

Great spirit

"There is a great spirit in the club and I don't know where any of the reports come from."

Warnock himself had to deny reports he had handed in a transfer request at Ewood earlier in the season.

He said: "It was so far from the truth it was unreal. I just didn't know where it had come from and it was a surprise to me, the chairman and the manager.

"People just try and sell newspapers and write what they can in them. I am sure the nationals need to sell so they will put anything they can in them.

"The lads will laugh it off and there is a great team spirit. That is what you need at the smaller clubs to see you through the league and we have already shown what has been written is rubbish.

"You need a good team spirit and when you are such a small squad everyone needs to get a long and to enjoy each other's company. Luckily we do that here."