Souness cool on Spurs link

Exclusive by Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Souness has not had contact with Spurs

Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness insists he has not been offered the opportunity to succeed Glenn Hoddle at Spurs.

Souness is understood to be emerging as the top choice of the White Hart Lane hierarchy after Hoddle was sacked following a poor start to the season.

It had been reported that Souness had already been offered - and taken - the Spurs job.

But Souness told the BBC Sport website the claims that he had accepted the job at White Hart Lane were wide of the mark, although it is certain he figures on the list of potential contenders.

Souness said: "I have not had any contact with Tottenham and I categorically deny I have accepted the job.

"I've not been offered the Spurs job and all I'm concerned about is trying to get three points from an important match against Charlton on Monday."

The Scot was among the early contenders to take over from Hoddle, along with Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Charlton's Alan Curbishley.

And now speculation is increasing that Spurs are ready to make their interest in Souness official.

Blackburn are sure to fight to keep Souness if Spurs make their move, after he took the side into the Uefa Cup this season.

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The Ewood Park side have had an inconsistent start to the new campaign, culminating in the Uefa Cup first round exit against Turkish side Genclerbirligi.

Souness raked in £22.5m in the summer from the sales of David Dunn to Birmingham and Damien Duff's £17m move to Chelsea.

And he rebuilt the squad by signing Rangers pair Barry Ferguson and Lorenzo Amoruso, along with Feyenoord's Brett Emerton.

Ferguson and Amoruso have yet to come to terms with the Premiership, but Souness insists his squad is now stronger than last season.

Spurs have placed David Pleat in caretaker charge until they make a permanent appointment, and now it seems chairman Daniel Levy is poised to step up his search.