Despite making no secret of wanting to add to his squad - Tony Mowbray won’t be forcing anyone out of the door at Rovers.

The boss revealed last week that he would be open to listening to offers for experienced duo Peter Whittingham and Paul Caddis.

A loan move for Joe Nuttall could also happen before the August 31 window should Rovers be able to strengthen in time.

Whittingham hasn’t been part of Rovers’ three league matchday squads so far this season and has played just 84 minutes of first-team football since December 30.

But the boss is happy to let the players have control of their careers as he looks to maintain a harmonious camp at the club.

He said: “Sometimes I bring them in. The more experienced players I will bring them in and have a chat about how it is and what’s happening.

“My personality is not to kick players out of the club. I brought them to the club, gave them the contracts, and they worked very hard last year to help us win football matches and get out of the division they were brought in to help us get out of.

“It’s very difficult when you sign players to get them to sign for just one year to get the job done, yet we achieved what we wanted in year one and now we move up a level and I feel we have to honour those contracts.

“Unless people come to me and ask ‘what’s happening, why am I not playing, I need to go and go play?’ then we have that conversation and try and help them.

“We will discuss what the options are, speak with their agents, and if not and they are happy to stay and fight for their place on the understanding that it’s a long season.”

Managers have been known to make players train away from the main group should they not be part of their plans.

But Mowbray admits circumstance, rather than ability, could be behind a lack of game-time for some players.

“I don’t recreate ‘bomb squads’ and send the players over there,” he added. “I treat them as I would want to be treated.

“Sometimes situations arise where the club is moving forwards fast, hopefully. Some players get left in the wake of that and I don’t think it’s their fault necessarily.

“There’s no need to mistreat footballers or human beings and we will take them along on the ride if that’s what they want to do.”