Rovers were trying to secure the long-term future of Tony Mowbray, despite relegation to League One, and finalising a shortlist of managers to replace Paul Lambert, on this day in years gone by.

Venky’s pledged their “full support” to the head coach in the wake of relegation but Mowbray revealed he would wait to speak to the owners before committing his future.

He had yet to meet the owners since his appointment in February before flying to Pune on this day in 2017 to seek assurances he would be given the necessary tools to lead an immediate promotion charge.

Mowbray still had a year to run on the 18 month deal he had signed when replacing Owen Coyle, but the club were ready to offer an extended contract, with the owners having described him as “the best fit for the club” in a statement.

Elsewhere, Jason Lowe was one of six first-team players released by Rovers following relegation to League One.

Lowe left having played 196 times for the club since his debut in the FA Cup win over QPR in January 2011.  Adam Henley, Wes Brown, Gordon Greer, Hope Akpan and Danny Guthrie were also let go.

Rovers were without a boss in the summer of 2016, after the departure of Paul Lambert, and one of the leading contenders for the vacant hotseat, Keith Hill, was a target for two other clubs.

Rovers had identified Hill as a potential replacement for the departed Lambert, but faced competition for the experienced Rochdale boss from Charlton Athletic, newly relegated from the Championship, and another unnamed League One club.

But the 47-year-old had set his sights on a return to Rovers if he were to leave Rochdale for a second time.

However, Neil Warnock had been installed as the new favourite for the Ewood post by bookmakers following his decision to leave Rotherham United.  In 2010, it was the turn of Rovers to fend off interest in their manager.

Chairman John Williams issued a hands-off warning to West Ham following speculation linking Sam Allardyce to the vacant managerial post at Upton Park.

Allardyce was reported to be part of a four-man shortlist drawn up by the Hammers hierarchy as they looked to replace Gianfranco Zola.

It was claimed that West Ham were set to seek permission from Rovers to speak to Allardyce, but Williams insisted no approach had been made by the Londoners, and made clear his position that Allardyce was not available.

“There’s been no approach and we wouldn’t welcome any approach,” he said.

Tony Mowbray said in 2018 that no player would be forced out of Ewood Park – but he wasn’t ruling out the possibility of under contract players leaving that summer.

Mark Hughes was making changes to his squad on this day in 2006, releasing Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso after three years at the club.

Hughes had concerns about the 34-year-old’s fitness record, and while accepting supporters didn’t get to see the best of him after his switch from Rangers, Amoruso said: “I’m just sorry for the fans most of all because they didn’t get to see the real Lorenzo Amoruso.”

Twelve months earlier Hughes was also making changes to his backline, beginning his summer shake-up by telling Craig Short and Nissa Johansson they were free to find themselves a new club.

The two central defenders were both told they would not be offered new contracts by Rovers when their present ones ran out later in the month.

“There were certain situations within the club that we had to cover ourselves for and we didn’t want to say that that was a done deal,” said Hughes.

Meanwhile, in 2015, former Rovers midfielder Steven Reid then with Burnley, called time on his career, seven years of which were spent at Ewood Park. He had made just eight appearances in a single season with the Clarets.