Football Season Guide

Blackburn Rovers

In


Chris Taylor (mid) (Millwall), Alan Judge (mid) (Notts County), Simon Eastwood (gk) (Portsmouth), Todd Kane (def) (Chelsea - on loan), Matt Kilgallon (def) (Sunderland), Devarn Green (att) (Burton Albion), Alex Marrow (mid) (Crystal Palace), DJ Campbell (att) (QPR)

Out


Christian Dilo (gk) (St Mirren), Adam Evans (mid) (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), David Goodwillie (sp)(att) (Dundee United - on loan), Martin Olsson (r)(def) (Norwich City), Nuno Gomes (att) (released), Danny Murphy (r)(mid) (released)

Following a turbulent 2012/13 campaign which saw Rovers flirt with both playoffs and relegation, new permanent boss Gary Bowyer will be searching for some stability going forward. The Scottish manager, who impressed twice during caretaker spells last term, has agreed a rolling one-year contract at Ewood Park. While Blackburn certainly splashed the cash last summer with the hefty fee paid out for star striker, Jordan Rhodes, it would appear that the purse strings have been tightened somewhat by the club's Indian owners, the Venky family. Bowyer has added to his creative options in wide areas with the signings of Chris Taylor and Alan Judge, while right back Todd Kane returns for another season-long loan spell after impressing last term. Experienced centre half Matthew Kilgallon will also provide maturity at the back, while striker DJ Campbell returns on a two-year deal despite an injury-hit loan spell earlier this year. This would appear to be more of a transitional year for Rovers, who may yet be outsiders for a top six push.

Target


Funded by their parachute payments, Rovers will be desperate to get into the top six, but much depends on the goals of Jordan Rhodes and DJ Campbell.