Rovers have published their retained list which will see four players leave the club at the end of their contracts.

Bradley Johnson, Harry Chapman and Jacob Davenport will all leave at the end of their deals, with Joe Rothwell having turned down the offer of a new contract and will also depart.

Negotiations remain ongoing with club captain Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Nyambe, as while both see their deals expire at the end of next month, Rovers hold hope that they can agree to extend their contracts.

However, with both over the age of 24, they are entitled to discuss their options with other clubs.

The club have exercised the option in the contract of top scorer Ben Brereton to extend his deal through to 2023, as well as Academy graduate Dan Butterworth who finished the season on loan at Fleetwood Town.

Goalkeeper Jordan Eastham and defender Tyler Magloire have also had their options taken up meaning they remain under contract until 2023.

Under-23s duo Jalil Saadi and Isaac Whitehall have both been offered new deals, but Luke Brennan, Joe Ferguson, Sam Durrant, Connor McBride and Joe Nolan will all leave the club.

Rovers retained list

Not retained: Bradley Johnson, Harry Chapman, Jacob Davenport

Leaving: Joe Rothwell

In negotiations: Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan

Options taken up: Ben Brereton, Dan Butterworth, Tyler Magloire, Jordan Eastham

 

Under-23s

Contracts offered: Isaac Whitehall, Jalil Saadi

Released: Luke Brennan, Joe Ferguson, Sam Durrant, Connor McBride, Joe Nolan

 

Scholars

Professional contracts offered: Patrick Gamble, Harrison Wood, Charlie Weston, George Pratt, Felix Goddard, Kristi Montgomery, Jay Haddow

Ben Fyles, who missed the majority of the 2021-22 season due to injury, has had his scholarship extended into a third year.

 

LEAVING THE CLUB

Joe Rothwell: The 27-year-old leaves having made 161 appearances for the club since joining from Oxford United in 2018 when he became the club’s first signing after promotion from League One

Rothwell starred for Rovers in 2021/22, making 41 appearances, his form leading to interest from Chicago Fire and Bournemouth in the January transfer window, with those bids turned down as the midfielder saw out the season at Ewood Park.

Bournemouth have retained their interest in Rothwell who is also expected to receive offers from Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.

 

Bradley Johnson: The 35-year-old joined the club in 2019 on a free transfer after leaving Derby County and was a key figure in the side in his first two seasons at the club.

His 50 starts across his first two seasons were enough to earn him a further year, but made only eight appearances in 2021/22 to leave with 86 appearances and six goals to his name.

Johnson has made clear his intention to continue playing, at whatever level, before looking to move into coaching.

 

Harry Chapman: The winger has made 35 appearances across his two spells with the club having returned on a permanent deal in January 2019 after his loan spell in the League One promotion campaign of 2018/19.

The 24-year-old signed a one-year contract extension last summer, but spent the majority of the campaign at Burton Albion, making 28 appearances for the Brewers, having also spent the second half of last season with Shrewsbury Town.

Despite impressive numbers for Rovers Under-23s side, with eight goals and eight assists in 18 appearances, Chapman failed to make a league start in his second spell.

Interest from League One is set to be high in the former Middlesbrough man, who has been promoted from the division on three separate occasions, and will be looking for regular game-time.

 

Jacob Davenport: The midfielder was Rovers’ second signing after promotion from League One and leaves after four years and 36 appearances.

Injuries impacted heavily on the 23-year-old’s time with the club, not making his debut until the final day of the 2018/19 season, while he also finished this season on the sidelines, not making an appearance in 2022.

The former Manchester City youngster scored once, an equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Brentford in December 2020.

 

TALKS ONGOING

Darragh Lenihan: Rovers are understandably keen to keep hold of their club captain who has played 252 times for the club since making his debut in April 2015.

He played 41 times in the 2021/22 campaign, and won praise for his leadership skills off the pitch, as well as his performances on it, and his likely stay looks set to be impacted by Rovers’ managerial appointment.

The twice-capped Republic of Ireland international is expected to receive interest from elsewhere, with Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder a long-time admirer.

 

Ryan Nyambe: It had looked likely that the right back would leave at the end of his current contract, with the option in his deal having been taken up last summer taking him through to 2022.

However, his representatives returned to the negotiation table giving hope that the 24-year-old could yet stay and build on his 201 appearances since making his debut in November 2015.

Nyambe, who is yet to score for the club, is a big favourite with Rovers supporters. He has previously had interest from Stoke City.

 

OPTIONS TAKEN

Ben Brereton: Rovers announce the expected news that they had taken up the option in the contract of their top scorer earlier this season.

Brereton hit 22 goals in a stellar season, having also starred on the international scene for Chile after pledging his allegiance to La Roja. The 23-year-old, a £6m signing from Nottingham Forest in 2018, has scored 31 times in 127 appearances.

Despite extending his contract, Rovers are expected to field bids for Brereton from interested clubs this summer.

 

Dan Butterworth: The attacker made 10 appearances for Rovers in the first half of the season, including a first senior start at QPR in October, before being loaned to League One side Fleetwood Town.

There he made 12 appearances, scoring one goal.

The 22-year-old has battled back injuries during the early stages of his Rovers career since making his debut in August 2018.

 

Tyler Magloire: The defender has had his contract extended by a further 12 months after five appearances for Rovers this season.

The 23-year-old finished the season on loan at Northampton, making 10 appearances, having also spent time with Rochdale, Hartlepool and Motherwell.

Magloire made his debut for Rovers in March 2019, but didn’t feature again until the start of this season.

Has interest north of the border, and could yet move despite his contract extension.

 

Jordan Eastham: The goalkeeper is yet to make his first-team debut, but has been around the first-team squad, and on the bench, in the last two seasons.

The 20-year-old, known for his excellent distribution, played 13 times for Rovers Under-23s in Premier League 2 in 2021/22, and has featured 27 times in all for the Academy side.

Eastham has had his option taken up having signe a two-year contract when turning professional in 2020.