BLACKBURN Rovers will start their preparations for the 2016-17 season with an overseas friendly.

Rovers will return to pre-season training at the end of June before flying to Austria for a six-day training camp from July 4-10.

And the camp will conclude with a clash against Austrian Bundesliga outfit SV Ried at the Keine Sorgen Arena in Ried im Innkreis on Saturday, July 9 (6pm local time).

On their return to the UK Rovers will take part in a three-team tournament at Morecambe’s Globe Arena on Saturday, July 16 with hour-long matches against the League Two hosts and League One Bury.

The Championship side will get the tournament under way against Bury at 1pm before facing Morecambe at 2.30pm.

Rovers will then travel to League One’s Rochdale on Tuesday, July 19 (7.45pm) before making their way to Blackpool, who are newly relegated to League Two, on Saturday, July 23 (3pm).

The club are in discussions with overseas opposition for a further friendly on either Friday, July 29 or Saturday, July 30 before the season kicks off on Saturday, August 7.

Rovers will also play a behind-closed-doors friendly against York City, who finished bottom of the Football League this season, at Brockhall on Tuesday, July 19 (1pm).

Rovers Under-21s have also announced their pre-season plans, with six away matches confirmed.

Damien Johnson’s side will head to Charnock Richard on Saturday, July 9 (2pm), Bamber Bridge on July 16 (3pm), Stockport County on Saturday, July 23 (3pm), AFC Fylde on Saturday, July 30 (3pm), AFC Darwen on Tuesday, August 2 (7.45pm) and Trafford on Saturday, August 6 (3pm).