Rovers boss Tony Mowbray says no player will be forced out of Ewood Park - but he isn’t ruling out the possibility of under contract players leaving this summer.

Danny Graham and Craig Conway are weighing up fresh terms from Rovers, with 20 players already under contract for next season.

Several, including the likes of Peter Whittingham, Paul Caddis and Ben Gladwin, struggled for game-time as Rovers secured promotion back to the Championship.

Mowbray says he will speak to any player concerned about a potential lack of involvement next season as he tries to build a squad capable of competing in the second tier.

Rovers are expected to resist the advances of clubs for their star names but when asked if some fringe players would be allowed to move on, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I think that’s all about discussions really.

“Everyone has had an opportunity to come and speak to me about their future.

“Some prefer their advisors to phone me, that’s fine as well.

“Footballers get a feel of how I work. I pick teams on a Saturday afternoon from what I feel in my stomach having watched them train, how their personality is around the building and what I see from them. And players will feel through pre-season whether they are going to get a chance.

“It will be down to how fit they come back, how hard they work, their end product of whatever job they have, defenders heading it out, full-backs delivering balls forward and stopping crosses, strikers scoring goals and midfielders’ range of passing.

“Everything is open for discussion is what I would say.

“I sit here pretty relaxed that we will add some players and if and when we add then that pushes player X further down the pecking order then they will probably come and knock on my door and say ‘what do you think gaffer?’

“If I feel it’s right for them to explore other options then they can do that.”

The team spirit and close-knit nature of the Rovers squad has been praised throughout the course of their promotion season.

And Mowbray admits that while it remains strong he won’t be looking to force anyone out.

He added: “As long as they are good human beings I never kick anyone out of football clubs. I give them the contracts, it’s slightly different here as there are some I didn’t give contracts to, but I’m happy to keep players here.

“They know how I work, as long as they get their heads down and work hard, don’t spend their whole life sulking that they’re not in the team, I’m happy to keep them going.

“Some footballers want to play and if they don’t see an avenue then they will generally knock on my door and ask and then we’ll try and help them move on.”