Steve Waggott says money was available for permanent signings in the January window and says the lack of additions wasn’t for the want of trying.

Waggott revealed a transfer budget of £1.3m was available, but there was an option to go to owners Venky’s for more should the right player become available.

Rovers were the only side in the division not to sign a player in January, with boss Tony Mowbray revealing asking prices for permanent signings proved out of their reach, while wage demands were also a factor.

Mowbray said Rovers had been quoted £2.5m for a League One midfielder, understood to be Doncaster’s Ben Whiteman, while salaries for Premier League youngsters were ‘mind-boggling’.

Loan deals for several players fell through, including Chelsea’s Tariq Lamptey who instead opted to join Brighton on a permanent deal, while Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu chose to stay and fight for his place at St James’ Park.

Asked about the finances available at the bi-annual supporters consultation meeting, chief executive Waggott said: "There was money there, we had a reserve amount from the budget from the summer, and also the way we adjusted some other things there was a budget in excess of a million should Tony want it.

"If we needed more, there was always an option. The owners have backed us, Tony and I, with other recommendations and there was an option to go higher.

"There was about £1.3m in the budget.

“It’s not a great window in my opinion to be operating in, which is why there was a lot of work went in to the summer to try and get the level of squad we wanted.

“Injuries meant there was a potential need to look at adding depth and cover but unfortunately we didn't manage to acquire anyone.

“Lots was done. We said before we've doubled recruitment spending, brought in a European head of scouting and a lot of work went in, all the research, all the different visits to Europe.

“Although that didn't manifest itself in to a signing, there was a lot of work that went in behind the scenes.

“Whether it was contractual issues, levels of requests of payments for loan players, there was a lot of work that went on, but unfortunately throughout the window we had targets but drew a blank.”

Despite the lack of signings, Mowbray says he maintains faith in his group, one which has been decimated by injuries in the last two months.

However, he accepts that failing to add in January was a particular disappointment to him and his backroom team.

He added: “I have repeatedly said I like this group of players, they an amazing bunch who work extraordinarily hard.

“I've always said the job was to improve the squad every window. You have to come out stronger than you go in. That hasn't happened this window.

“Making your starting XI and team better, acquiring those players, it’s really difficult.

“We looked at some players in our league who aren’t playing for their team, some of the numbers some of the teams are paying is incredible, two or three times more than we're paying.

“Nobody is more disappointed about the transfer window than me.

"A lot of people did a lot of hard work behind the scenes and I'm disappointed for them.

"They know the eyes are on them, but it's really difficult."

Rovers shipped 69 goals last season, with Mowbray making a commitment at the last meeting to strengthen in that area.

He was quizzed on that, and said: “I changed the goalkeeper, I changed one of the centre halves, changed the left back.

“Lenihan is good enough to help this club out of the league. Ryan Nyambe is improving every day with Premier League attributes.

“Adarabioyo, Walton, Cunningham, there has been changes to the defenders.

"The defensive record is better than last season. We're not perfect but we have the third best clean sheet record in the league.

"We're doing better defensively. Defenders did go, defenders don't get in the team and defenders who were in the team aren't anymore and have to fight to get in.”

With goalkeeper Walton and central defender Adarabioyo both on loan, and full back Greg Cunningham out for the season, Mowbray says there are clear priorities for the summer.

Rovers brought in Walton in July after selling David Raya to Brentford, but only after missing out on several other targets.

"Goalkeepers, last summer after we sold David Raya, Christian Walton wasn't our main target. We had targets but they fell away,” Mowbray explained.

"It's unbelievable how much young footballers earn, it's really difficult to find a goalkeeper to come and do the job that you have total faith in.

"Walton fell in to our lap, we felt his second year loan would be better than his first.

"We will try and sign two goalkeepers in the summer, we're looking hard. It's been going on for months now."