Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams is confident they can hold onto their top players.
In recent weeks, Steven Reid and Morten Gamst Pedersen, to name just two, have both been linked with moves to bigger clubs and Williams believes all the speculation is proving unsettling as the club closes in on its goals.
"No sooner do we lay the ghost of the bully boys, we have to endure the constant speculation of our players leaving for bigger clubs," he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
"I am told it's flattering, the price of success, maybe, but I don't like it. It can distract from our focus.
"We don't want any of our major players to leave this summer. Sometimes it's out of our control, if they want to go, or a giant club comes in, or the bank manager suddenly gets difficult, it may be different but so far none of those things have happened.
"If the very biggest clubs come knocking it's sometimes hard for a player to resist but the grass isn't always greener.
"If you give your players good management, good training, good facilities, good sports and medical science, good organisational back-up and we do - it counts for a lot.
"We also support them off the field and they appreciate it. If you are a player there are a lot of reasons to ply your trade with Rovers. We are a decent club. Just ask the players who have left."
In recent weeks, Steven Reid and Morten Gamst Pedersen, to name just two, have both been linked with moves to bigger clubs and Williams believes all the speculation is proving unsettling as the club closes in on its goals.
"No sooner do we lay the ghost of the bully boys, we have to endure the constant speculation of our players leaving for bigger clubs," he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.
"I am told it's flattering, the price of success, maybe, but I don't like it. It can distract from our focus.
"We don't want any of our major players to leave this summer. Sometimes it's out of our control, if they want to go, or a giant club comes in, or the bank manager suddenly gets difficult, it may be different but so far none of those things have happened.
"If the very biggest clubs come knocking it's sometimes hard for a player to resist but the grass isn't always greener.
"If you give your players good management, good training, good facilities, good sports and medical science, good organisational back-up and we do - it counts for a lot.
"We also support them off the field and they appreciate it. If you are a player there are a lot of reasons to ply your trade with Rovers. We are a decent club. Just ask the players who have left."
