Tony Mowbray believes his new deal, and those of a host of his star players, is the best way of building for a bright future at Rovers.

But the boss is keen to supplement those under long-term deals with new faces to get Rovers in to a position of challenging for promotion from the Championship.

Mowbray penned a new three-and-a-half year contract at Ewood Park on Friday, his second extension since joining as boss in February 2017.

He follows the likes of Bradley Dack, Darragh Lenihan, Charlie Mulgrew and Elliott Bennett in extending his stay.

And the 55-year-old boss is excited about the future.

“You have the players you identify that you think can come on the journey and you need to tie them down,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Then you have to add the extra quality around them to stretch them and make them realise that if they are going to come along on the journey that they aren’t the ones that drop off the other end when you bring new players in.

“To work with the existing group that we’ve got, make them better, and then add some quality will only make us better. That’s the only way you can do it.”

Rovers owners Venky’s released a statement after Mowbray penned his new contract, saying they shared ‘a common ambition,’ adding that the boss would ‘have our steadfast support and backing as we embark on this journey together’.

Mowbray, whose previous deal ran until next summer but included a 12-month option in the club’s favour, has twice travelled to India to meet with the owners.

He has spoken about the marginal gains he is targeting in a bid to turn Rovers in to promotion contenders with his side currently 10th in the Championship.

Mowbray is now the second-longest serving manager under Venky’s, who took charge in November 2010, behind Gary Bowyer and has brought a level of stability at Ewood Park.

“I have spoken to the owners about continual improvement and thank them for allowing me to continue the work we’re doing,” added the boss.

“I don’t think we’re in a position in this league and the teams we have to play where we can go straight through.

“But with continual improvement each transfer window to try and improve the quality and add to the squad, so that in a few transfer windows’ time and over the next few years we can start a season where we feel as though we can at least try and make the top six and get out of this division.

“That’s the plan, to try and keep improving, make sure we get recruitment right and be cleverer than we ever have in the past of how we recruit and what we do, and try and build a team that can be competitive to give the likes of Aston Villa, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Derby and Nottingham Forest some competition.”