IT was very tough to take to see Tom Cairney leave Blackburn Rovers.

But unfortunately I think it’s something we are going to have to get used to.

Financial Fair Play seems here to stay and that means, even when we get out of the embargo, we’re going to have to bring players in at low cost, like Tom, improve them, and then try and sell them on for a big profit.

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That’s not easy to do, especially as things stand, with us being able only to bring in free transfers and loans.

But plenty of clubs outside of the Premier League operate this way and, certainly when we’re out of the embargo, that’s what we’re going to have to do too.

As I say, though, it doesn’t make it any easier to take, mainly for the supporters, but also for the coaching staff.

Gary Bowyer has got to go away now and try and replace Tom – and not just replace him, try and get a player in who is as good as him.

That is going to be difficult because Tom is a quality player, so the fans, who by now know all about the embargo, are going to have to be very, very patient.

While we wait for new signings to come in, it’s a chance for the players currently in the squad to show what they can do.

And we do have players who can play out there on the right, where Tom has spent most of his time.

I think we’d all take Ben Marshall on one wing and Craig Conway on the other come the start of the season.

But the problem is we don’t know whether we’re going to lose Rudy Gestede or Jordan Rhodes along with Tom.

If we do lose one or both of the strikers then the set-up of the team would have to change – and that might happen a few times before the big kick-off.

That’s why it would be beneficial for all concerned if the players who do look like going, like Rudy, go as soon as possible.

That way it would give Gary an opportunity to get a fresh face, work with that player, get more an understanding of that player, and tell that player how he wants him to play.

It’s catch-22. You don’t want to sell your best players but, at the same time, if it’s going to happen, you’d prefer it to happen sooner rather than later.

For the rest of the players in the squad it’s just about getting on with it.

You’ve got to think about yourself, think about winning and keeping your position in the team, as you can’t affect anything else.