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Blackburn chairman John Williams has insisted he was never worried Mark Hughes would quit the club for Newcastle.
Any chance of the Rovers boss departing for the north-east has ended after Kevin Keegan returned for a second stint at St James' Park on Wednesday night. Hughes had been one of the bookies' favourites to replace Sam Allardyce in the Magpies' hotseat after the former Bolton manager's departure nine days ago. The Welshman's refusal to rule himself out of the running when he was questioned after last weekend's derby win over the Trotters increased fears he could be willing to leave for a bigger, if no more successful club. But Williams claims he never doubted Hughes' commitment to Rovers and believes that, like Keegan at Newcastle, he retains a sense of unfinished business at Ewood Park after almost three and a half years in charge. 'I always felt that he would remain here,' he said. 'He values the continuity that he has and I know he feels we are close to a very good league position at the end of the season. 'We have a strong personal relationship and I never felt that he was likely to go to Newcastle. The job's unfinished here and I'm sure that we will continue to make good progress. 'We're having a great season and the future looks good for us.' But despite his bravado, Williams was willing to admit to a certain relief that the issue had been put to bed. He told the Lancashire Evening Post: 'We're naturally relieved that it's sorted because our manager was continually linked with the post.' Reports have, meanwhile, claimed want-away striker Jason Roberts is unlikely to be leaving in the current transfer window. No clubs are yet thought to have matched Blackburn's £4million valuation of the former Wigan forward, and Hughes would be more than happy to keep hold of a player who proved his worth with a stunning solo winner in the 2-1 win at Reebok Stadium.