ROVERS boss Tony Mowbray believes the club will need to make loan signings next season - but hopes the squad can become less reliant on them in years to come.

The head coach will look to make several permanent additions this summer as he aims to launch an immediate challenge for promotion back to the Championship. 

But he hopes to supplement them with the right quality in the loan market of which he has had success with in the past.

Adam Armstrong, Ryan Kent and Jacob Murphy all flourished under Mowbray during his time at Coventry in 2015/16 as the Sky Blues pushed for the top six.

But he admits Rovers won’t become over reliant on them as he looks to build a solid base at the club with the addition of permanent signings.

“There’s a fantastic foundation and yet that does need to be improved, but that will take a little bit of time,” Mowbray said.

“We are still going to need loan players next season, obviously if they’re of the right talent.

“But over time they need to become less important and you have to have more of your own players.”

The scrapping of the emergency loan system last summer meant clubs could only recruit players on six month or season-long deals.

Rovers brought in seven loan players last season, with differing levels of success.

Southampton striker Sam Gallagher finished as the club’s joint top-scorer, but Jack Byrne and Martin Samuelsen saw their stays ended early having initially been brought in on season-long deals from Manchester City and West Ham respectively.


Gary Bowyer and Paul Lambert used seven loan players during the 2015/16 campaign, while five loanees spent time at Ewood Park in the 2014/15 and 2013/14 campaigns.

Mowbray revealed in the wake of his meetings with owners Venky’s in India that he would be given a budget to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season.

And he said: “Hopefully we are going to be really strong in League One next season.

“I know the salary levels at that level and if we keep our (under contract) players then we will have a budget where I could not sit in front of anybody and say we need more money.”

Meanwhile, former Rovers loanee Gallagher – who hit 12 goals last term – is said to be interesting Cardiff City.

Gallagher impressed during his season-long loan spell at Ewood Park, and Neil Warnock is thought to have the 21-year-old on a list of attacking targets.

Reports in Wales suggest that a fee in the region of £3.5million could be enough to sign Gallagher on a permanent deal.