Rovers deny Shearer talk

Rovers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Mark Hughes left last week to take charge of Premier League rivals Manchester City.

The likes of Sam Allardyce, Paul Ince and Steve McClaren have been linked with the role but former Blackburn striker Shearer has also emerged as one of the favourites.

Speculation had suggested that Williams was about to fly out to Austria to meet Shearer and discuss his interest.

However, Williams has now played down reports that Shearer could be offered the position by claiming 40 applications have been submitted.

It remains unclear whether Shearer is on that list, but Williams insists that Blackburn will not be rushed into an appointment.

Williams told Sky Sports News: "There will be no news today - what is in the public domain is we are having a meeting to consider the candidate list, which is a good list, a healthy list with lots of very interesting applicants and we start work today and see where we go.

"It is never good to lose the manager but if there is going to be a time, this is the time as we are between seasons - I would hope that we will have something within a week to ten days."

He added: "I think it is pretty obvious we won't be seriously considering 40 people but we will give every candidate, everybody that has bothered to show interest in the job needs consideration and that's exactly what the start of this process will entail."