BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been named the Nationwide manager of the month after steering Rovers to within one win of a return to the Premiership by Andy Neild

Rovers won five and drew three of their nine First Division matches in April to put themselves in pole position for automatic promotion.

It's the first time Souness has won the accolade during his 13 month tenure at Ewood but he insists it's an award to mark the efforts of the club as a whole.

"I'm very pleased to have received this award because it is the first managerial accolade to have come our way this season," said a delighted Souness.

"But I have to point out that it's my staff and players who have secured this award for myself and Blackburn Rovers.

"We have put ourselves into a magnificent position and our destiny is in our own hands.

"But we still have to win another game and that's all we are focusing on.

"Of course, I'll be checking the Bolton result tonight but I'm fully expecting us to need a result at Preston tomorrow.

"That's the way I've always been taught to approach things and that's how we'll be handling this situation."

This report comes courtesy of our sister newspaper the Lancashire Evening Telegraph