Robbie Savage has branded reports linking him with the vacant Blackburn Rovers managerial position as pure “speculation” as he prepares his side for a stern test away at high-flying National League York City on Saturday.
Savage, who is currently the bookmakers’ favourite for the role at Ewood Park, was keen to play down the rumours and reaffirm his commitment to his current project.
“I’ve seen it, purely speculation,” Savage said. “I’m sure it’ll be somebody else’s name tomorrow. I had a wonderful time there – it’s a wonderful football club. I want to see all my clubs do exceptionally well, but again, my relationship with my owner (Dale Vince), my staff and the fans here is magnificent.
“Look what we’re doing. I’m five months into a project with an amazing owner, Dale, and great people, and that’s going to continue. I was four-and-a-half years at my previous club on a journey. Look at the position they’re in now and John’s taking them on. I’m in a great position here with great people and I want to take this club into the Championship, I really do.”
Listen to Robbie Savage’s unabridged pre- York City press conference.
Savage’s focus is firmly on Saturday’s clash with York, following an impressive 4-2 victory over Woking on Tuesday night. The Rovers boss was full of praise for striker Ricardo Rees, who continued his red-hot form by scoring his fourth goal in as many games.
“I think we’d be competing with York and Rochdale to win the league if we’d had Ricardo at the start of the season,” Savage said. “If you think about it, we’ve had 10 draws and 16 wins and four defeats. If any of those 10 draws, five of them would have been a win, we’d be on top of the league now.
“That’s the fine margins, and that’s because I’m talking about massive chances in those games. Everybody that comes to the games has seen how many chances we’ve missed. Five of those 10 draws, if one moment – big moments – would have gone in, it’s all ifs and buts and hypothetical, but that’s how close we are; we’d be top of the league.”
Savage also highlighted Rees’ confidence ahead of the trip to Yorkshire.
“He walked into the building the other night and said, ‘I’ll score tonight,’” Savage added. “And I’m sure on the bus going up to York, he’ll say, ‘I’ll score today.’ So it’s going to be a good game, an entertaining game, with two very, very good sides, regardless of who beats who or if it’s a draw. I think Stuart Maynard’s done an incredible job – they’ve built over a number of years.”
While York striker Ollie Pearce is widely regarded as the league’s most potent attacking threat, Savage believes the Minstermen pose danger across the pitch.
“They’ve got Josh Stone, they’ve got threats all over the park- they’re a good side,” he said. “Them and Rochdale are the two best sides in the league, because the league tables suggest that these two will finish first or second, and I think we’re all playing for third.”
Savage expects his side to embrace the test York will pose in front of a baying home crowd: “They’ll embrace it like they did at Carlisle. This is why you want to be a footballer for these games. They’re amazing and I’ve experienced a lot in my career, 75,000 or San Siro, you know, Old Trafford Villa Park. It’s brilliant. If you can’t get up for these games, then you know you shouldn’t be involved in football.”
Off the pitch, Savage confirmed that midfielder Tate Campbell has completed his move following a successful medical.
“He’s passed his medical, all the paperwork’s signed, so I think he’s going to be announced this morning,” Savage said. “It’s a great position for the football club. He’s spent the majority of his young career so far at Birmingham.
“I went to Hereford -I’d seen him and tried to get him at Macclesfield, but he chose Buxton for that full-time element – and now we’ve got him, so we’re delighted. He can play as a six, an eight, or even as a right-sided centre-half. He’ll add to the dynamic of our squad. He’s been on our radar for a number of weeks.”
Savage also spoke at length about midfielder Nick Haughton, stressing the importance of understanding his circumstances away from football.
“It’s just giving him confidence and managing him,” Savage explained. “He’s moved away from home, he’s got a young family, and obviously he’ll try to get back home as much as he can. It’s tough when you live on your own.
“People say he’s not the Nick he was at Fylde, but the circumstances are different – it’s the first time he’s probably lived away from his family, which is tough. He was magnificent the other night, and now it’s up to him to stay in the team. Consistently, those performances, the bar set. He’s found it tough here, but he just needs to work hard, keep improving. Training’s been good, so I was delighted for him.”
Finally, Savage praised the impact of set-piece coach Wayne Hatswell following two goals from dead-ball situations against Woking -while hinting at some light-hearted internal discipline.
“You see it from the first set piece – two goals from set pieces,” Savage said. “The first one, Gabe… I’m not sure if it’s Gabe’s goal. I think it might be an own goal, looking at it.
“We do court cases on a Friday when we travel away. There’s a little fine system with players deciding if they’re guilty or not. When I’ve seen the replays, I don’t think it’s Gabe’s goal. The way he’s celebrated, it looks like his – so he might be in court for over-celebrating a goal that’s not his.”
