A new model for a new era as Rovers re-structured their footballing operations ahead of the upcoming season.

Gregg Broughton was brought in as director of football, with Jon Dahl Tomasson appointed as head coach.

That new model had been outlined at the start of the recruitment process for Tony Mowbray's replacement, and has now implemented as Rovers embark on a new chapter in the club’s history.

Broughton says the appointment of Tomasson was with the model in mind, the Danish coach having worked under such a system at previous club Malmo.

The club’s off-field operations have been strengthened by Broughton’s arrival, with chief executive Steve Waggott and owners’ advisor Suhail Pasha already in position.

With change comes questions, however, with Rovers having had this type of set-up for only a matter of months previously, that being in 2017 when Paul Senior was appointed as director of football and operations.

So how will it work?

Broughton’s remit is wide-ranging, covering the first-team, Academy, recruitment, analysis, medical and sports science, and while there will be some level of cross-over in parts, that will be his focus.

“For me it’s quite straightforward. The business is split into two parts, business side and football side,” Broughton explained.

“Myself and Steve have to work really tightly, because ultimately our aim is the same, it’s to create revenue for the football club. There are slightly different methods of doing that.

“Steve and I report directly into the owners through the board.

“That’s the model.”

Broughton said the ‘owners vision’ he was tasked with implementing had come directly from the Rao family during talks prior to his appointment.

As for Tomasson, his focus will be on the coaching of the team, working closely with Broughton to bring in the players necessary to take the club forward.

The pair have quickly struck up a good understanding, and Tomasson said: "I have of course a really good relationship with Gregg.

"It is a bit like the European way, where you have the Sporting Director and a Head Coach. Of course, Gregg needs to provide us with those names and I need to buy in as well, before I say yes.

"The way we are working together, it is very open, good conversation. We only want one thing, for Rovers to get up there, where they need to go."

This comes after TMowbray, prior to his departure, questioned the decision-making process at the club even after five years in charge.

But with a director of football and chief executive in place, Rovers now have a new structure in place that should alleviate any of those concerns.

Recruitment will be imperative this summer as Rovers start life under Tomasson and Broughton.

The head coach stressed that no player will be signed without his approval, a stance re-iterated by the club’s director of football.

“Ultimately Jon will always have the final say before we bring players in,” said Broughton, before outlining recruitment will be the main focus of his work in the weeks to come.

He says the club must ‘put the systems in place’ to allow Tomasson and his coaching staff to deliver success on the pitch.

But the collaborative approach is one that Tomasson is not only comfortable with, but encourages.

“One of the reasons we recruited Jon was because he has worked with the European model,” Broughton explained.

“One of the first things he’s done is take away the manager’s office, he wants one room where the coaching staff are sat around, planning together every day, it’s not him and the coaches, they work together collaboratively.

“Hopefully I can just help in that process.”

“It (the manager’s office) will still be there because we need somewhere to meet privately with players one-on-one but in terms of Jon’s workplace every day, he wants to be in the room with the coaches deciding on how we can affect the players on the pitch.”

Broughton left his role at Bodo/Glimt earlier this month to take up the position at Rovers. His work there, and at previous clubs Norwich City and Luton Town, focused heavily on both Academy and recruitment.

Those will fall under his remit, and it is the ability to shape change at the club that excites him most.

He added: “That’s why I was so excited by this opportunity, because I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of clubs in the past and it wasn’t that all-encompassing role.

“It’s to ensure we have the medium and long-term in view, to support Jon on the short-term, because that’s his aim to fulfil that, but join those six areas together.

“My job is to keep the wheels spinning.”

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