PRE-SEASON? It’s been more like open season for Rovers supporters this summer with not a week having gone by without one of their favourites being linked with a move away.

It came as a boost, then, when some positive news arrived yesterday with the conformation of new deals for youngsters Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Nyambe.

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There is no question that, in a post-FFP world, Rovers are going to have to rely on producing players from their Academy now more than ever.

Balance is key, though, and as things stand, Gary Bowyer’s squad is lacking in senior bodies.

Take away goalkeepers Jason Steele, Simon Eastwood and Jake Kean, who is available for transfer, and you are left with 15 outfield players who are considered ‘established’ under the rules of the club’s FFP embargo.

Now that Bowyer has more room to move – the departures of Paul Robinson, David Dunn, Luke Varney, Josh King, Tom Cairney and Josh Morris, along with loanees Alex Baptiste, Jay Spearing and Paul Taylor, since the end of last season has certainly seen to that – he will be able to bolster his ranks in the coming weeks, well-documented restrictions notwithstanding.

But what continues to concern Rovers fans is who else the club could lose.

Rudy Gestede going would come as no surprise given Watford want him and given he has already expressed his desire to play in the Premier League.

And, seeing as he cost just £200,000 and would now command at least 30 times that amount, his sale would represent superb business.

The same could be said about Cairney’s shock move to Fulham last week.

Signed for £600,000 18 months ago, the decision to let him leave for a fee that could rise to £4m makes financial sense.

But what signal has selling Cairney sent out? That all Rovers players are up for a sale at a certain price? Would a club, say, get Ben Marshall for £3m? Markus Olsson for £2m?

Ultimately only Venky’s can answer those questions but, despite continuing to prop the club up, they have not spoken publicly since May last year.

Back then their open letter to supporters was well timed. Optimism was high after a highly encouraging end to the season.

Fast forward 14 months and the mood among the fan base has changed.

It would not be an easy time for Rovers’ owners to open the lines of communication once more.

But, unless promotion is achieved this season, is there ever going to be an easy time?

That’s why, as good as it was to learn that two of Rovers’ most promising players have committed their futures to the club, hearing from Venky’s, no matter how hard the truth is, would be more welcome.