Blackburn: Just missed out on Championship play-offs

Rovers will spend a third successive season in the Sky Bet Championship next term after they narrowly missed out on the play-offs in manager Gary Bowyer's first full campaign in charge.

That was certainly not where the Venky's, an Indian poultry company, envisioned the club being when they purchased a top-flight outfit in 2010.

After relegation in 2012, Blackburn had five different managers in the following campaign and only just avoided another demotion with the club lurching from one crisis to another on and off the pitch.

However, 12 months on, Rovers appear on more stable ground and the Venky's have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring they return to the Premier League.

"Now that the season has ended, we would like to put on record our thanks to Gary Bowyer and the players for their hard work and dedication in what was a season of stability and one in which we could see real progress and promise for the future," said a statement from the owners on the club's official website.

"You the fans, too, have played a huge part in that and we want to say a special thank you for the support and commitment you have once again shown to Blackburn Rovers.

"Many supporters have contacted us this season in recognition of the hard work and passion of the team and that has been welcomed.

"Our family is fully aware of how difficult the past few years have been for everyone who has affection for our great club, we are deeply sorry we haven't, so far, been able to bring the success we all desire for Rovers.

"That said, our commitment has and will not waiver. We have learned some very valuable and costly lessons in our quest to make you, the fans, happy and proud of Rovers and the desire to achieve our mutual dream will benefit from that."

Although Bowyer failed to get his side into the play-offs the signs at the end of the season were particularly encouraging as they closed out the campaign with a 12-game unbeaten season.

Furthermore, the January signings of Craig Conway, Rudy Gestede and Tom Cairney proved to be shrewd and Rovers will start next season as one of the favourites for promotion.

The statement continued: "In Gary Bowyer, we have a manager who wants to build a strong, talented team, one to get us back to the Premier League as soon as is possible.

"We also feel that off the field, the management and staff is a committed and dedicated workforce, which will complement and support Gary and the players.

"We, like many clubs, face the challenge of the impending Financial Fair Play rules and we will do all that is necessary to comply with that, whilst continuing to assist Gary in his pursuit of success.

"We are truly thankful of the support you give to the manager and the team and we want to repay that by our continued commitment in Blackburn Rovers."