Rovers are into the closing stages of appointing a new head of recruitment.

The search began in the wake of the departure of Stuart Harvey who joined Sunderland this month after heading up Rovers’ recruitment team since 2019.

Tony Mowbray says it has been business as usual despite Harvey’s exit and the work to identity prospective targets for next season remains ongoing.

Mowbray is yet to have an input in the interviewing process, but will do once a shortlist has been put together, with 87 people having applied for the post.

The manager has pushed to overhaul the club’s recruitment process during his time in charge, with a team of analysts having worked under Harvey who helped implement a new data-driven system.

Rovers face a rebuilding job this summer, with several senior players and loanees set to move on, and asked about the head of recruitment post, Mowbray said: “The chief executive is dealing with that.

“I have no issues with that, there were 87 serious applicants for that job and I know I wasn’t going to sit infront of 87 people and try and whittle it down.

“They will do that and get to a number and then I’ll get involved and feel whether the connection is there, the personality is right and we’ll see how it goes when it’s down to a number where I can get involved.”

Earlier this season Rovers appointed Glyn Chamberlain as head of European scouting having seen the importance of overseas recruitment, particularly in the Championship.

That allowed them to identity goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski who was named as player of the season after an impressive debut campaign after being brought in from KAA Gent for around £450,000.

Rovers also started their recruitment for next season in January, bringing in Crewe Alexandra left back Harry Pickering for £650,000, the 22-year-old loaned back to the League One side for the remainder of the campaign.