Ali rejects reports of Rovers role

29 December 2012 12:47

Judan Ali has denied he is set to become part of the coaching set-up at Blackburn.

Ali, a 39-year-old amateur and youth coach, became a figure of intrigue on Friday following reports himself and former Aston Villa assistant boss Kevin MacDonald were set to take up roles at Ewood Park in the wake of Henning Berg's sacking as manager.

But when asked whether he was being lined up for a position at Rovers, Ali told Press Association Sport: "Not at all. I've had no intentions of coaching here. It's for my personal development, observing how a professional club is operated and structured for elite players. I want to see how it compares with those I've been with in eastern Europe, in India and in the Caribbean."

He went on: "For me it's almost a once in a blue moon opportunity to be at a professional outfit such as Blackburn Rovers.

"I've not come here to look at the playing side of the business at all. It's to see how the club is, the facilities, the sports science.

"I've not come in to critique, judge or even take notes on how the training sessions are delivered by any members of the coaching team."

On whether he was involved in any discussions regarding MacDonald or any other potential candidates, Ali added: "I'm not privy to any of this information. I don't have any input on the playing side of the club and I strictly can say that I'm being transparent.

"It's a time of volatility or controversy or whatever you want to call it and I happen to be at the centre of it all."

In reports linking him with Blackburn, Ali found himself referred to as a Bollywood actor owing to his part in 2007's 'Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal' - a label he is amused by given he has never taken on a conventional acting role. The film is based on his experiences as a youngster in London from an ethnic minority background trying to make the grade as a professional footballer.

"I ended up working on the movie to recruit and coach and train the footballers and the actors in the movie," he explained. "I found myself being part of the cast by default, purely because I was on the pitch most of the time."

Source: PA