Steve Kean: 'Christopher Samba departure boosts morale'

Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean has insisted that Christopher Samba's departure will benefit his squad.

Samba brought an end to a five-year stint at Ewood Park by agreeing to join Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala on Friday evening.

The 27-year-old made his unhappiness at the club public last month, something that Kean is pleased to have seen exit.

"From our point of view Chris never withdrew his transfer request or apologised. He wanted to go and made that quite public," said Kean.

"On a positive side, now we know everyone we have in the dressing room wants to be here. We will all be pulling together."

Rovers are believed to have received £12m for the centre-back.