GARY Bowyer has revealed Chris Taylor turned down offers from elsewhere to sign a new one-year contract with Blackburn Rovers.

Championship rivals Rotherham United were credited with having the strongest interest in the 28-year-old midfielder.

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But Taylor, who has scored five goals in 58 appearances for Rovers since making a free transfer move from Millwall two years ago, including three in last season’s run to the FA Cup quarter-finals, has chosen to stay at Ewood Park.

“I’m delighted that Tayls has signed up for another year,” said Rovers boss Bowyer.

“There was interest in him from other clubs but he has chosen to remain with us.

“He is hugely popular amongst the other lads and his displays last season – particularly in the FA Cup – show how important he is to us.”

Taylor missed the final eight matches of last season with a groin injury.

But, despite not having put pen to paper on his new deal, he returned to training alongside the rest of his Rovers team-mates on Monday.

His decision to commit his future to the club means Bowyer now has 19 ‘established’ players in his squad.

The other 18 are goalkeepers Jason Steele, Simon Eastwood and Jake Kean, defenders Adam Henley, Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy, Matt Kilgallon, Markus Olsson and Tommy Spurr, midfielders Ben Marshall, Jason Lowe, Lee Williamson, Corry Evans and Chris Taylor, and strikers Jordan Rhodes, Rudy Gestede, Chris Brown and Leon Best.

Rovers will be able to have no more than 24 ‘established’ players – those over the age of 21 who have made more than five first-team starts for the club – on their books once the new Championship season gets under way on August 8 at home to Wolves.

The club has been trying to come to a financial settlement with Best, who has 12 months remaining on his £30,000-plus per week contract.

The 28-year-old has not played for Rovers since October 2013, spending the best part of the last 18 months on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Brighton & Hove Albion, and he was not at training on Monday.