Rovers have been warned they face ‘frightening’ financial challenges and will have to rely heavily on support of owners Venky’s.

That’s the view of outgoing West Bromwich Albion CEO Mark Jenkins who feels the focus of most second tier clubs will be on outgoings, rather than incomings.

Rovers released five players at the end of their contracts last month, and are yet to agree new terms with Stewart Downing who is now free to leave other clubs.

Loanees Christian Walton and Tosin Adarabioyo have since returned to their parent clubs, though Tony Mowbray says his summer business won’t rely upon selling a key asset this summer.

Clubs will likely be reliant on loan deals and free transfers, with Rovers scouring both markets in a bid to add to their ranks, with gaps having opened up in the squad after last month’s departure.

That comes as League One and League Two clubs voted in favour of the introduction of salary caps for next season of £2.5m and £1.5m respectively.

The EFL said: “Discussions continue with Championship clubs in respect to amendments to their own financial controls.”

The Championship transfer market has been almost non-existent so far, with the window remaining open until October 5, three weeks after the start of the season.    

The EFL agreed a new £550m deal with Sky television last summer, which caused great consternation among Championship clubs in particular, who felt more avenues should have been explored.

And Jenkins told the Express & Star his side would have faced the prospect of cutting their wage bill in half had they not achieved promotion.

He said: "I’d say every club that will be in the Championship next year will be more focused on getting rid of players than getting players in.

"I literally do not know how some Championship clubs, without owner support, will survive.

"Every owner is going to have to dig deep. And you have got to remember these owners earn their money in the real world where I think there is going to be a recession anyway.

"So they are not going to have the resources. Football is going to be difficult, very, very difficult.

“The only transfers you are seeing at the minute are from the top six and that is because they have got huge resources and wealthy owners.

“But for the other clubs, it’s going to be challenging, very challenging to put it mildly."