BLACKBURN Rovers have not tabled a bid for Crystal Palace's highly-rated defender Hayden Mullins as the vultures circle around Selhurst Park.

Rovers were reported to have offered £2.5 million for the 20-year-old, who burst on to the Nationwide League last season.

With Palace having to sell to survive, Mullins is a prime target.

But Rovers chief executive John Williams insisted today that there had been no offer lodged for the Palace man.

"We haven't made any bids for any player," Williams added.

Mullins is rated as a highly promising product of the youth set-up at Selhurst Park.

And he is in no hurry to leave.

"I am happy here, the fans have been terrific and I just want to concentrate on helping Palace get up next season.

"Everyone wants to play in the Premier League and I am no different," he said.

However, Mullins may have no say in the matter as the First Division club are struggling just to survive.

Facing expulsion from the League unless they have a firm rescue package in place by the end of July, administrators running the club admitted yesterday that the cost of pursuing such a deal would be financed by the sale of players. Although Rovers haven't tabled any bids and the transfer market is going through a quiet period due to holidays for players and management, the club will be monitoring a number of potential targets.

And another central defender not likely to be on his way to Ewood is former skipper Colin Hendry.

Hendry's name is constantly being linked with a return to Blackburn from Rangers and the story surfaced again today.

However, Rovers stressed that there is nothing in it and, as romantic a notion as it might be for some fans, Hendry is not expected to be wearing a Rovers shirt again next season.

Meanwhile, Gary Croft's future remains up in the air as he waits to speak with Kidd.

However, he won't be rushed out of the door as Kidd looks to maintain the strength in depth to his squad for a promotion push. "It's not figuring in Brian's plans to sell Gary Croft," confirmed Williams.

Roy Hodgson admitted today that time is running out fast if Australia want him to coach their national side.

"I can't and obviously I won't hang on forever and if it's going to take longer than I think is necessary then I would go somewhere else," he said.

Hodgson, who coached the World XI against Australia at the opening of the Olympic stadium on Saturday, is interested in the national coaching job, but only on his terms.

The former Switzerland, Inter Milan and Rovers coach has insisted he take charge of the Olympic team as well as the World Cup side.

Hodgson is believed to be asking for an after-tax contract of £180,000 a year.

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