BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle has confirmed that Shane Duffy and Ben Marshall will formally be offered new contracts next week.

Defender Duffy and midfielder Marshall have less than 12 months remaining on their current deals and have been the subject of failed bids from Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolves respectively.

And Coyle said: “I want both of them here for the long term. There had been interest in both of them a few weeks back which was rejected.

“I’ve recommended to the owners that we look to make sure Ben and Shane are here long term and I would hope that at the start of next week we could have real positive dialogue with respect of trying to put something to them that the boys feel good about.

“Ultimately they are in a very strong position, as most players are in their scenario, but it won’t stop me from recommending and getting something from the owners to put to the lads so they can decide what they want to do.”

Asked whether the club needed to offer contracts sooner, Coyle, who took over the Rovers reins in June, said: “I can’t really effect that because I inherited it as such but, to your point, it’s important that you put that plan and that infrastructure in place that serves the club well for years to come.

“Within that you’ve always got to be seen when you can to protect your assets, which those two certainly are. It’s something I’ve recommended and hopefully we can get that over the line.

“Ultimately both lads are in good positions. Having said that they’ve said they’ve really enjoyed the pre-season and being part of what we’re doing, so that certainly helps us.

“Hopefully we can get something that they feel good about and they commit to Blackburn Rovers for the foreseeable future.”