BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer wants to keep Chris Taylor at Ewood Park – branding the versatile midfielder the type of player every club needs.

Taylor, who has scored five goals in 58 appearances for Rovers since his free transfer switch from Millwall two years ago, is one of eight first-team Rovers players out of contract this summer.

Defender Matt Kilgallon and midfielder Lee Williamson are expected to put pen to paper on new deals while the club are determined to thrash out fresh terms with striker Josh King.

And, while goalkeeper Paul Robinson, defender Yann Songo’o and striker Luke Varney are set to leave once their contracts expire next month, Bowyer has confirmed his desire to retain Taylor’s services.

The 28-year-old, who scored three crucial goals in Rovers’ run to the FA Cup quarter-finals this season, is keen to stay at Rovers.

And Bowyer wants to make that happen.

He said: “We’re still in negotiations with Tayls but we certainly want to keep him.

“He’s fantastic to have around the place and I think, certainly in the second half of the season, you saw the contribution he can make.

“I’m sure he would tell you he’d have liked to have played more games but in the ones he did play, he did very well for us.

“If you go to clubs up and down the country you’d find every one of them needs a Chris Taylor in their squad because he’s so adaptable.

“He can play anywhere along the front six and we’d like to keep him.”

Rovers, meanwhile, have been awarded The Football League Family Excellence Award for the 2014-15 season.

Through initiatives such as the FanZone, the new sensory room in the Striker’s Family Lounge, and the new baby changing facilities in the family areas, the club has been recognised as offering an outstanding experience for young fans and families attending matches at Ewood Park.

Rovers director of communications Alan Myers said: “The Family Excellence Award is important as it assesses everything other than the football on a matchday.

“The benchmark increases year on year in order to achieve the award, therefore we can’t be complacent and must continue to strive to go the extra mile each season.”

Rovers are one of 42 clubs from across all three divisions of The Football League to receive the award for this season.