A SUMMER of change could well become a summer of uncertainty after the departure of Paul Senior less than 24 hours after the club’s relegation was confirmed.

The dust had barely settled on Rovers dropping in to the third tier for the first time in 37 years before Senior announced his resignation from his Director of Football and Operations post just 123 days after being appointed.

At a time when stability and clear thinking behind the scenes is key, Rovers’ owners, Venky’s, at least moved quickly to pledge their full support of head coach Tony Mowbray in a statement released yesterday evening.

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But there are still plenty of other questions to be answered, such as whether Mowbray will be handed assurances, and the budget, to convince him that he can achieve the owners’ aim of returning Championship football to Ewood Park at the first attempt.

Rovers face decisions over seven out of contract players, while a further five will return to their parent clubs at the end of loan spells.

And for those under contract, even if they want to stay, the question is can Rovers afford to keep players who were part of a wage-bill which Senior himself revealed was the ninth largest in the Championship?

A failure to replace the quality of those that have left has been a key reason behind Rovers’ plummet down the Championship, so this summer will be crucial.

“Recruitment is the currency of a football club,” said Mowbray in the wake of relegation.

This is where Senior was to earn his money.

There was due to be a summer restructure in how Rovers attract players, it now remains uncertain how the Ewood transfer hierarchy will work after Senior’s resignation and with uncertainty still surrounding Mowbray’s future.

What Rovers must now do is quickly put in place a recruitment plan and learn their lesson of 12 months ago.

Last summer’s rushed, last minute business, played a key part in the club’s downfall.

“This summer offers us great opportunity to maybe do things differently, maybe restructure the football club and forward plan,” Senior said in his last interview with the Lancashire Telegraph.

After his resignation, it’s uncertain who will lead the vast rebuilding job that’s required to arrest Rovers’ recent decline.

If day one of life post Championship relegation is anything to by, it promises to be a busy summer.