BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has expressed his delight after it was confirmed that Matt Kilgallon and Lee Williamson will be staying at the club next season.

Option clauses in the duo’s current contracts, which were set to run out next month, have been activated.

That means centre-back Kilgallon and midfielder Williamson, two of Rovers’ most experienced campaigners, will remain under contract at the club until June 2016.

“Matt has been fantastic for us and when Grant Hanley got injured he captained the team ever so well,” said Bowyer, who was yesterday linked with a loan move for Manchester City’s 20-year-old midfielder Seko Fofana.

“The level of his performances have been terrific, none more so than in the FA Cup game Liverpool at Anfield when him and Alex Baptiste stood out.

“His experience is vital to us so we’re delighted that we’ve managed to secure his services again.

“A left-footed, left-sided centre-half is hard to find.

“Lee’s a bit of an unsung hero for us.

“Some supporters may not always recognise the contribution he makes but if you asked the players about his contribution to us they would say it is massive.

“His experience has been vital for us in certain games and he’s put in some impressive performances.

“He’s got good knowledge of the game and him and Matt could go into coaching in the future.”

Rovers’ retained list, which was announced on Saturday, showed that striker Josh King and versatile youngster Darragh Lenihan, who broke into Bowyer’s first team at the back end of the season, have been offered new deals.

It also showed that long-serving goalkeeper Paul Robinson, along with defender Yann Songo’o and midfielder Paulo Jorge, will be released once their current contract runs out on June 30, 2015.

The former England number one, who is in the top three of Rovers’ highest earners, has not featured in a matchday squad since making his 202nd appearance for the club in the 3-2 home loss to Derby County on September 17.

Midfielder Chris Taylor and striker Luke Varney, whose contracts also expire next month, have yet to be offered fresh terms.

And, as they are over the age of 24, that means they are now free to talk to other clubs.

But Bowyer has already declared his intention to keep midfielder Taylor while Rovers have yet to close the door completely on Varney.

The 32-year-old is set to spend the next six months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon while playing for Ipswich Town, where he has spent the last three months on loan, last week.

Varney has made it clear he would like to return to Ipswich who will remain in the Championship next season after losing their play-off semi-final to Norwich City.

He said: “I’ve had a lot of clubs in my career but – and I’m not saying this lightly – being at Ipswich has been my highlight.

“I know that’s a big thing to say, considering I was only there for a couple of months, but I just felt like a real family member from day one. I’ve never been at a club that’s so united.

“The manager has called me three times since the injury and has promised that the club will help me get fit again.”

Varney added: “Six months ago, when I was out of the picture at Blackburn, I’d lost a little bit of love for the game. That’s why I’m so grateful to Mick McCarthy and Ipswich Town. At my age people can start clocking off but I’m more desperate to play than ever before.

“I just want to be part of Ipswich Town Football Club.”