STEVE Waggott believes the feelgood factor around Rovers following promotion from League One can be the start of a rebuilding process.

Rovers secured an immediate return to the Championship after Ewood Park hosted third tier football for the first time in 37 years this season.

Waggott admits Tony Mowbray’s men have to use the platform of promotion to try and restore the club to former glories.

The Ewood chief executive knows the second tier will be a challenge but believes everyone associated with the club should by excited by the prospect.

“This is the start, the platform has been built,” Waggott said.

“Sometimes it takes a shunt backwards to put yourself in order to create the building blocks to spring forwards again.

“That is what has been done this season. Next season will be a big challenge, there are some big clubs in the league but we see what Sheffield United and Millwall have done and momentum is a great thing in football.

“Should we achieve the unbeaten run until the end of this season then hopefully that momentum will carry us forward into the Championship.

“If we can attract the right players and retain most of the squad then the blend that Tony has got, with experience and youth, can handle going up a notch,. It’s a great challenge and one everyone should be excited by.”

There was disillusion around Ewood 12 months ago following relegation but Mowbray has now helped create a united front.

On whether the drop last May could now be viewed as moving one step back to take two forward, Waggott said: “It’s an interesting question. Fans like to see their team win, whatever league you’re in.

“When you have the heritage and history of a club like Blackburn Rovers they want to see you win at the highest level.

“Falling into League One, the third tier of English football, is not good enough for a club like Blackburn Rovers. However, once they see some success and the resurrection of the phoenix rising again then they will get behind it.

“You have to finish it off and that’s why it was critical that we got over the line, the fans will buy in to it. Next season will be tough but hopefully we can manage that and have a stable platform to try and maintain Championship status and see where we go from there.”

Financially, Rovers remain reliant on the investment of owners Venky’s, with club liabilities standing at close to £110m.

That is likely to rise after a year in League One when revenues and turnover will have dropped further.

Waggott added: “You get circa £110 million over four years when you drop out of the Premier League so a club like Sunderland will have a second payment in League One, which is unbelievable.

“When you fall out of the Championship into League One it is such a vast difference in terms of TV payment money, season tickets, people are disenchanted, the commercial side takes a hit, so the whole thing is suddenly knocked off track.

“So to get that back and the vibe, not just among staff, but the phone lines - corporate hospitality is booked out for the last game - the shop, getting that feelgood factor back to the club and the town is great to see.

“Obviously next season is a big challenge. It will be like a Premier League two with lots of clubs with parachute payments, there could be eight or nine £30m or £40m ahead of us so we’re going to have to be smart in the transfer window.

“We have restructured the recruitment department so the work begins now and we focus on next season, albeit with the emphasis on winning the next two games.”