DIRECTOR Alan Myers insists owners Venky’s remain committed to getting Blackburn Rovers back into the Premier League – as they sanction a £300,000 revamp of the club’s playing and training pitches.

Myers and Rovers boss Gary Bowyer have just returned from India for end-of-season talks headed by Venky’s matriarch Anuradha Desai.

And Myers, who was appointed the club’s director of communications in February, said: “It was a positive meeting.

“The owners were pleased with the way last season went and the fact that the club and team stabilised.

“They remain fully committed to the club and it remains their aim to help the club get back to the Premier League as soon as possible.

“But they see that Gary is building a young team and it’s about patience.

“As far as discussions about the football side of things are concerned, that is for Gary to talk about and quite rightly so.”

Bowyer led Rovers to within two points of the Championship play-offs in his first full season.

He will attempt to spearhead a promotion charge next season while facing the twin challenges of reducing the club’s wage bill and Financial Fair Play.

When Bowyer’s squad return for pre-season training in July they will encounter refurbished surfaces at Ewood Park and their Brockhall training base.

Venky’s have given Rovers head groundsman Steve Patrick the go-ahead to reseed the pitch at Ewood, the five pitches at the senior training centre and two of the pitches at the academy.

As part of the £300,000 outlay Patrick has also been able to purchase new machinery and a ‘desperately needed’ sprinkler system at the academy costing £54,000.

Patrick, who has worked at Rovers for 26 years, said: “It’s an incredible amount of money.

“Last year I spent £650,000 on a 3G facility which is the best thing we’ve ever done as it gave the academy Category One status.

“It is used intensively right throughout the summer – there are kids on there every day and every night – and I am sure we will reap the rewards from it in the next five years.

“This year when I asked for £300,000, there was no hesitancy.

“I need to make sure when we do get back into the Premier League that we’ve got the facilities to hold our heads high as a Premier League club – and we have got that.”

Patrick, who was a season ticket holder in the Riverside Stand before joining Rovers in 1988, believes last season’s playing surface at Ewood was the best he has seen in 26 years and he hopes the 2014-15 vintage will be even better.

He added: “I know we had a good winter but I felt the pitch last season was, in my opinion, the best I’ve ever seen it in my time here.

“Getting this revamp will help us keep that standard.”