Darragh Lenihan believes Tony Mowbray and his Rovers vision has played a key role in securing a number of star players to new deals.

Lenihan is one of seven Rovers players to have extended their stays at the club this summer ahead of their Championship return.

The 24-year-old was the subject of interest from Sheffield United last summer but signed a three-year contract with Rovers last month having entered the final year of his previous deal.

The Republic of Ireland international is expected to be a key part of Rovers’ plans moving forward, and says Mowbray, who took over at Ewood Park in February 2017, has helped transform the club.

“We feel as though we’re building something,” Lenihan told the Lancashire Telegraph. “There hasn’t been eight or nine players leaving and eight or nine coming in which is never good for a football club.

“The gaffer has done a very good job of securing the futures of players.

“Everyone is delighted to be at the club.

“It’s a club going in the right direction and we’re all working hard.

“All successful teams keep a core together and that’s what the gaffer has done. There’s been minimal changes and we can all look forward.

“Ever since the manager has come in he’s been outstanding. His record speaks for itself.”

Joining Lenihan in signing new Ewood deals were Danny Graham, Craig Conway, Derrick Williams, Richie Smallwood, Scott Wharton and Bradley Dack.

Rovers have 14 players contracted until at least 2020 with Mowbray, who has 12 months remaining on his current deal with a one-year club option, taking a long-term view with the project at Ewood.

The boss has kept together the core of last season’s squad, with 10 of the starting line-up at Southend on the opening day last season expected to take to the field at Ipswich Town this weekend.

And Lenihan says the strong team spirit within the dressing room shouldn’t be overlooked.

“This is the best team I have been in ever since I’ve been at the club,” the defender said.

“There’s a great bond in the camp, friendship in the group, and everyone gets on so well with each other. We’re all friends off the pitch as much as we are inside the training ground.

“We’ll use that spirit to our advantage this season.”

Rovers have made just three summer signings so far, but Mowbray is eyeing four more recruits before the loan transfer window closes on August 31.

But Lenihan says the players aren’t taking their spots for granted, knowing they need to keep their standards high in matches and training.

He added: “There’s a healthy competition in the group which pushes everyone on, every single one of us needs to be working hard day in day out because we’re all under pressure.

“That comes from the gaffer, he’s the one who has brought that healthy competition and we need to keep going.

“If the lads aren’t on it then you won’t be in the team, and that’s the best motivation for every player, knowing you have to keep those standards high.”

Promotion was the stated aim for Rovers last season but this time around however, there have been fewer public targets set.

So what are this season’s targets?

Lenihan said: “We want to beat Ipswich and take things from there, not start coming out claiming we’re going to win the Championship. Beat Ipswich. Then we take it from there. We need to take it game by game.”