Gregg Broughton appointed Blackburn Rovers director of football

Blackburn Rovers are yet to appoint a replacement for Tony Mowbray, who left at the end of last season having led the club to an eighth-placed finish in the Championship

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Gregg Broughton as their new director of football, ahead of the appointment of a new head coach.

Broughton arrives having worked in academy and recruitment roles at Luton Town, Norwich City and, most recently, Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

He arrives after former manager Tony Mowbray left at the end of 2021-22.

"The potential for on and off-field success is enormous and I look forward to working as part of a team," he said.

"The club has a prestigious history going back to the foundation of the Football League, with over 70 years in the top flight and a great standing within the local community.

"They have consistently demonstrated their belief in youth development, with over 500 consecutive games with an academy graduate in the squad and last season almost 40% of minutes in the Championship from academy graduates."

Mowbray left Rovers after five years with the club, during which he led them to promotion back to the Championship from League One as well as an eighth-placed finish last term.

Broughton, who holds a Uefa Pro Licence and technical director's qualifications from the Football Association, will take responsibility for football strategy at the club, including the first team and academy as well as recruitment.

"It is great to appoint a person with the wide-ranging spectrum of skills, knowledge and experience that Gregg has acquired over the last 20 years in football," chief executive Steve Waggott said.

"He will work closely with our new head coach (once confirmed), myself and the board by developing a clear future vision and strategy for our football operations, using the solid platform built over the last five years."

Analysis

BBC Radio Lancashire's sports editor, Andy Bayes

It's fair to say that Blackburn Rovers have taken their time with appointing a director of football as the search for a head coach continues.

The role is all encompassing with the remit including pretty much all areas of the football side of the club, perhaps relieving the incoming head coach of certain responsibilities.

Broughton, who has most recently been working in Norway with Bodø/Glimt begins work at the clubs Brockhall training base immediately, with the senior players reporting back for fitness testing at the start of next week.

His first duties will be to welcome the incoming new head coach, who is expected to be named by the end of the week and attempt to tie down out of contract defenders Ryan Nyambe and skipper Darragh Lenihan to new deals.

He's not Rovers' first ever director of football. Sir Kenny Dalglish relinquished his role as first team manager to take that job title following their Premier League title triumph in 1995.