TONY Mowbray is confident he will be able to keep the core of his current Rovers squad together to launch an immediate push for promotion.

Mowbray has agreed to stay on as Rovers head coach after positive talks with the club’s Indian owners over the past week.

The 53-year-old has been granted the assurances he wanted from Venky’s that he won’t be forced in to player sales ahead of next season’s League One campaign.

Rovers have 15 players under contract for next season who have already represented the senior team, with Mowbray keen to keep the core of that squad together.

After agreeing to stay on as Ewood chief, he told the club’s official website: “I would like to keep all of the contracted players if possible to give us the best opportunity to move forward.

“However, if an offer comes in for one that we feel that we can use to improve the team then we will look at that as well.

“But at this moment, the discussions have been around retaining the current contracted players and then we have to add to the squad with quality.

“I have confidence that we can get a team that will be very strong in League One.

“We know it is going to be difficult, of course, but the only aspiration is to bounce straight back to the Championship.

“We have to recruit well in the summer and be as strong as we possibly can.”