BLACKBURN Rovers will open talks with Graeme Souness in the next few weeks about a lucrative new contract.

The former Liverpool chief, who has led Rovers to promotion and Worthington Cup success in the last 12 months, has only one year left to run on his existing deal.

But the club's board of directors are keen to tie the 49-year-old Scot to the club for at least another two years as they look to build on the foundations laid during his two impressive years at the helm.

As yet, no specific date has been set to hold the discussions as both the board and the coaching staff catch their breath after a hectic season.

But Souness is ready to sit down and thrash out new terms even though he had originally planned to retire from the game at the age of 50.

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes' impending retirement from playing should put him top of the shopping list as soon as the managers' merry-go-round starts next season.