GARY Bowyer believes David Dunn will manage Blackburn Rovers one day after handing the midfielder a new 12-month contract at the club.

Dunn was out of contract this summer but has now put pen to paper on a one-year deal after Bowyer made it clear that the 33-year-old was still a major part of his plans.

The contract is only a playing deal but Dunn has been working on his coaching qualifications this summer and Bowyer has no doubt that he has all the credentials to manage Rovers at some point in the future.

“It’s purely a playing deal but he has been getting his coaching badges and I’m sure he will go on to manage this club one day,” said the current Rovers boss.

“He’s knowledgeable, he’s a student of the game and he is always watching football and those are the sort of qualities you need.

“He produced some great performances at the end of the season and he’s Blackburn through and through. We couldn’t afford to lose someone like that.

“You see it at other clubs whether they keep their experienced players at the club – Manchester United with Paul Scholes. It helps to instil a culture and we want to do that here.”

Bowyer thinks Dunn can also inspire the young players around him in the Rovers dressing room and believes the midfielder still has what it takes to play on a regular basis in the new season.

“If we get 46 games out of him this season then great, although that is always down to the player and Dunny is no different to anyone else,” said the boss.

“He is so passionate about the club and he’s great on and off the pitch.

“The young lads can only learn from being around him in the dressing room.”

Tickets will go on sale at the start of next month for Rovers’ home friendly against Everton on Saturday, July 27 at 2pm.

Tickets cost £15 for adults for the Jack Walker Stand and £12 for the Blackburn End lower tier. The Riverside Stand and Blackburn End upper tier will be closed for the game.