Tony Mowbray says the process of contract talks at Rovers ‘never stops’ after three key men extended their stays at the club.

Corry Evans became the latest player to sign fresh terms, following captain Charlie Mulgrew and midfielder Elliott Bennett.

Mowbray himself penned a contract extension last month, meaning the club has negotiated 10 long-term deals in 2018.

Five of those players, as well as the manager, had deals due to expire next summer and Rovers were keen to secure the futures of their key figures.

It means Danny Graham and Craig Conway are now the only players whose deals expire in 2019, but the club has options to extend both by a further 12 months.

And Mowbray is keen to build a strong core to his squad, which he hopes to supplement with additions during the January transfer window.

“It should never stop really,” the boss said of contract talks.

“It’s been like painting the Forth Road bridge, once you finish at one end you have to start back at the beginning.

“That’s how it is with football teams. You have to keep evolving, you have to keep building and identify the players you feel can take you in to the future.

“Those processes will continue, the job never stops on how you want to progress your team.

“Of course there is a transfer window coming up so hopefully we will try and add some players.

“But for your team to evolve you also need some core components that you can rely on week in, week out.

“We have tried to secure those players, the ones that understand how we play, the things on a 90 minute matchday that you have to try and do to get results.

“We’re trying to give ourselves the best chance of having a core of a team that can be successful.”

Mulgrew, 33 in March, signed a deal through to 2021, as did 28-year-old midfielder Evans, the club’s longest serving senior player.

Bennett, who turns 30 today, is also signed up for a further two-and-a-half years, with the trio among the squad’s most experienced campaigners.

Mowbray says there is a balance between rewarding the players and working within a strict salary structure, but admits he makes the final call on any contract decisions, even if he’s not involved in the negotiation process.

He added: “I think that’s important. Sometimes that’s why these discussions can go on for longer than people might realise.

“It’s always a balance between where the footballers sees himself, where his career is, where he thinks he’s going to be at the end of that contract, his salary, what level of security level does that give him and his family?

“The club, we’re not a charity, we have to make sure we feel there’s a worth in that player for a number of years we have them commit to.

“There’s been lots of discussions, not between me and the players because sometimes that can create a problem, but between them and the football club and their advisor.

“Ultimately I make the decision of who I would like to go forward with, and within the budget we are currently carrying we try and get the deals done.”

Joe Grayson, who has captained the Under-23s this season, signed a new two-and-a-half year deal last week, but a number of Damien Johnson’s squad see their contracts expire next summer.

The club will have decisions to make on the likes of Charley Doyle, Jack Doyle, Tyler Magloire, Lewis Hardcastle, Willem Tomlinson, Stefan Mols, Okera Simmonds and Lewis Mansell.