Rovers’ UEFA Cup draw “fantastic”, says Williams

BLACKBURN ROVERS chief executive John Williams declared the club’s UEFA Cup draw against Celtic “absolutely fantastic”.

The Premiership side were pitted against the Scottish champions in a second-round game already being billed as the "Battle of Britain".

Adding to the tie is the fact that Rovers are managed by former Rangers boss Graeme Souness, and that ex-Rovers striker Chris Sutton is now at Parkhead.

And Williams said: "It is an absolutely fantastic draw, especially with all the connections between the clubs.

"It is obviously going to be built up as the big British European game and it should create a lot of interest, so we expect a full house," he said.

"There is no travelling abroad, so that is good for administration and good for the fans. It couldn't be a better draw."

Celtic star Jackie McNamara agreed that the Souness connection would be the main talking point of the game, to be played at Parkhead on October 31, then two weeks later at Ewood Park.

McNamara said: "It's a fantastic draw. It's good for our supporters and it's one we're happy with.

"Obviously, with Graeme Souness there, that will be the talking point. It won't be just Celtic and Blackburn either the whole of Britain will be looking forward to it.

The two teams had contrasting passages into yesterday's draw, which was made in Nyon. Celtic were easy 10-1 aggregate conquerors of Lithuania's FK Suduva in the first round, while Graeme Souness's side needed to hold off a late fightback by Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia before going through on away goals.

Elsewhere, Leeds were drawn against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, last year's conquerors of Chelsea in the same competition.

Terry Venables's side will have home advantage in the first leg but they are still waiting for confirmation as to the venue for the away leg.

Security reasons mean the Israelis play their European home games in Bulgaria at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Levski Sofia's ground.

However, Sofia play their second leg to Sturm Graz at home on November 14 the same night Leeds are to play the away leg against Tel Aviv.

A UEFA spokesman said there were three alternatives for the games.

Tel Aviv could propose an alternative, the legs of the match could be

reversed, or UEFA could switch Tel Aviv's home leg to November 12, 48 hours before the scheduled kick-off.

Fulham, conquerors of Hajduk Split over two legs, were drawn against Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb, and will be away in the first leg.

Ipswich, who were drawn against Slovan Liberec, will also have home advantage in the first leg.

George Burley's Division One side saw off FK Sartid over two legs in the first round, with Marcus Bent's penalty in Yugoslavia on Thursday proving decisive.