Transfers, spending limits and your Blackburn Rovers questions answered

Blackburn Rovers Reporter Elliott Jackson fields queries on recruitment, backroom staff and finances in our latest supporter Q&A session.

Should fans be concerned by a lack of transfer activity?

The million-dollar question. Concerned might be a strong word but I can understand some supporters getting twitchy.

The season starts in less than one month and Rovers have only activated the option to make Moussa Baradji a permanent signing. Rumours have been think on the ground and that probably reflects Tony Mowbray's genuine desire to audit what is already in the building.

I can appreciate that, especially if funds are tight, but it's quite clear that they need bolstering in certain areas. Now the World Cup is coming to an end, I suspect we will see more movement across the Championship with teams heading on pre-season tours.

So I would say no at this stage but it certainly wouldn't do any harm if they had a new face in Portugal. Both for the existing players, the coaches and the fans.

Is there any money? Do we have to sell to buy?

I'm led to believe there is some money but finances will again be tight at Ewood Park. The club have invested money in transfer fees over the last year but there has clearly been an effort to keep the wage bill down.

Whilst they have spent on Andri Gudjohnsen, Sidnei Tavares, Mathias Jorgnensen and Ryoya Morishita, much of that was generated by sales.

Six exits brought in around £10m last summer, with Dom Hyam, Callum Brittain and Lewis Travis the main ones. John Buckley, Joe Rankin-Costello and Harry Leonard supplemented that further.

So yes, there is some wiggle room to start with but for Rovers to spend decent money, I think there would have to be a departure. Balazs Toth's situation has to come to ahead whilst the club have more control on Ryan Alebiosu.

Ryan Alebiosu has transfer interest. (Image: CameraSport)

Realistically, they're the only two that would command major fees. Todd Cantwell would probably be third on that list.

Have the changes to the financial rules affected how we operate? We have seen other clubs like Stoke City and Bristol City spend.

I think the new financial rules will give a good indication of how much Venky's want to spend at Blackburn Rovers.

If the club is limited to 85% of its revenue, it will need a top-up in order to compete above the bottom eight of the division. Rovers are not a big fish in the Championship at all despite their obvious heritage and history.

Venky's can invest a further £33m over three years, with a max of £15m in one season. The difference now is that money is written off. It becomes equity and can't be a loan.

With an example like Stoke, they have almost been hamstrung by financial rules. The Coates family are incredibly wealthy and want to put more money in to the club. So they are happy to take the opportunity to put in the extra £15m which has seen them sign someone like Ethan Galbraith.

Bristol City had money left over from the January sales of Annis Mehmeti and Zak Vyner so were always like to invest somewhat. They also have a new Sporting Director and head coach so the owners want to back their men.

So back to Rovers, it's not great news for the club unless Venky's are willing to play mum and dad. Otherwise, there will have to be a big focus on driving revenues to stay compliant and be competitive.

Who could make the step up to the first team from the Academy?

James Edmondson has been around the first-team picture for a little while now. He's training with the seniors at the moment, though he played for the Under-21s rather than at Accrington last weekend.

I'm intrigued by Lorenze Mullarkey-Mathews. He looked really bright last pre-season but then had injuries and didn't feature. He's played at right-back more recently and I wonder if he could break through as cover for Alebiosu whilst Lewis Miller is out.

We saw small bits of Aodhan Doherty last season. He is a bit different to Ryoya Morishita on the right and is quite direct, albeit raw.

(Image: CameraSport - Ian Cook)

Isaac Dunn has been progressing well too. It's about spotting where the opportunities might lie and who could jump in to fill the holes as Tom Atcheson, George Pratt and Matty Litherland did.

What should we do with Igor Tyjon?

Well unless a Premier League side finally comes good on their interest and presents an enticing deal to Rovers, all they can do is keep him.

I think it was the wrong move to exile him to such an extent last season, particularly over Christmas. Nobody can tell me that Tyjon wouldn't have been a decent alternative to Nathan Dlamini or playing Axel Henriksson up front constantly.

That said, I am not overly surprised. Rovers want him to commit his future and probably aren't inclined to develop someone else's player when they might not get true market value.

Mowbray is the type to put his arm around Tyjon and maybe that will sway him. Rovers are not blessed with quality in the final third and as someone who is naturally gifted, perhaps he can step up?

Worst-case scenario is that he walks away and Rovers get training compensation. It's frustrating but we have been here before.

If we kept the squad the same, what does the 25-man squad look like?

So Rovers essentially had 28 senior players at the end of last season. Sondre Tronstad, Andri Gudjohnsen and Lewis Miller were all removed with Ryan Hedges, George Pratt and Nathan Redmond reinstated post-January.

Tronstad, Redmond and Hedges have left, first and foremost. Eiran Cashin and Taylor Gardner-Hickman have also returned to their parent club.

There is little reason to register Miller as the chances are he won't be back until January registration opens anyway. But the club can choose on that.

So that leaves you with 22 slots. Jake Garrett is one player who wasn't registered that Rovers may choose to add.

(Image: Blackburn Rovers)

When will Tony Mowbray's backroom team be completed?

In terms of the first-team coaches, I'm only expecting a goalkeeping specialist to be announced and that's something they're actively trying to do. Ben Benson hasn't been part of pre-season though the club haven't formally announced his exit yet.

It is a slight reduction on the previous head count under Michael O'Neill. John Eustace had Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing, on top of Damien Johnson and David Lowe, though the latter's role was reduced. So three on-the-grass coaches supporting Eustace.

Valerien Ismael only had two in Dean Whitehead and again Johnson. Michael O'Neill had Steven Davis, Phil Jones and Johnson. So it's flittered between two and three outfield coaches, aside from the manager themselves.