There was uncertainty surrounding Craig Conway’s future when he sat down to speak to the press ahead of Rovers’ final game of the season with Swansea.

He was on 199 Rovers appearances and out of contract in the summer.  It wasn’t quite goodbye, but it felt close to it as he recalled his undeniable highs, but also the lows, of his time at the club.

Then, on the final day came appearance No.200 and a great reception. The fans again weren’t sure whether it was the end for Conway, but they made sure it was a fitting farewell were that to be the case.

Could Rovers have made more of the fact this would be Conway’s final appearance and given him an even bigger send-off?

The club’s retained list released 10 days later again wasn’t quite goodbye, with the club revealing they remained in talks with a player who had turned 34 earlier this month.

That raised eyebrows for some, though Conway was always likely to weigh up his options, and Tony Mowbray had made it clear that anything more than a bit-part role could not be promised.

However, a player who served the club so well deserved more than his departure to simply be announced as part of a list on the club website. 

Then on Saturday evening, Conway revealed on social media that his five-and-a-half year stay at the club would be coming to an end. It was his decision, and his time to say goodbye.

A fantastic servant, on and off the pitch, Conway has definitely made this decision for the right reasons. He was frustrated at a lack of game-time this season, where, despite being fit for the majority of the season, made just nine Championship starts.

The promotion year brought 19 League One starts, but injuries did hamper him at stages.

‘Bull’ as he was known to all at the club, was a key member of the dressing room, part of the senior leadership group, and had a big role to play even when not involved on the pitch.

The way he conducts himself is to be admired, and he has immersed himself in to East Lancashire life, not least with his great charity work in recent times.

As good a deliverer from wide areas as Rovers have had some times, the likes of Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede certainly benefited from his quality in to the box.

There was never a shortage of effort, and he is a more intelligent player than he gets credit for.

He finished the Swansea draw wearing the captain’s armband, which has turned out to be a fitting end.

The messages of thanks that flooded in showed what high regard he was held in.

But there is also the feeling that it was the right time to say goodbye, not always easy with a player so popular. Head has definitely ruled heart.

Opportunities were hard to come by this season, but he often found himself part of experimental attacking line-ups (away to Derby, West Brom and Reading) but in his two Ewood starts, against Sheffield Wednesday in December and Derby in March showed that he still has plenty to offer.

For that reason, as well as his character, is likely to mean he won’t be short of offers.

And he leaves Rovers with no shortage of well wishes.