GRAEME Souness today vowed to do everything in his power to fight FA misconduct charges after being reported by match officials at Rovers' Worthington Cup tie against Wigan last month.

The Rovers boss faces a third touchline ban in the space of nine months if found guilty. But he's determined the real truth will come out when he attends a personal hearing.

"I deny the allegations strenuously and I'll fight it vigorously," said Souness.

"I'll do everything I possibly can to prove that what the officials say is not correct and I have witnesses to back me up," said Souness.

"The last time this happened I was fined a great deal of money and suspended for three games. I felt that was terribly unjust and I've again been treated very unfairly.

"The statements made by the two officials are far from the truth and I will contest them.

"It's no secret that I'm passionate about football but I know the parameters I have to work within.

"Three weeks after being fined and suspended I'm hardly likely to go down the same road again."

Such is Souness's determination to clear his name that he may even take his case to the European courts.

However, Rovers have already lost one battle this week after failing to persuade Uriah Rennie to overturn his decision to show Lucas Neill a yellow card in Tuesday's Worthington Cup tie with Manchester United.

Neill will now miss the semi-final second leg because that was his fifth booking of the season.