Rovers have announced the second friendly of their close season games schedule.

They will travel to face Hartlepool United on Wednesday, July 20 (7.30pm) – which comes four days after the other friendly that has been announced to date.

Rovers had already revealed they will face Celtic on Saturday, July 16 (12.30pm), with the Hartlepool game looking set to be the penultimate fixture of pre-season, with one to follow on Saturday, July 23.

The new season gets under way on Saturday, July 30, a week earlier than usual because of the mid-season break to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar which starts in November.

The game with Hartlepool will be played at the Suit Direct Stadium.

Pools finished 17th in the table in their first season back in the EFL following promotion from the National League.

Hartlepool are currently without a boss after dispensing of the services of Graeme Lee. Tony Mowbray had been installed as favourite by the bookmakers for that job, but ruled out a move to the League Two side.

Rovers say: “We shall be receiving an allocation of tickets from Hartlepool and the relevant information will be advised in due course. Further friendlies will be confirmed in the coming days and weeks.”

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