Captain Travis 'very close' to ex-manager Eustace

Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis has said he was "very close" to John Eustace before his ex-boss left for Derby County last week.

The 27-year-old would not be pushed to answer whether he was surprised Eustace left fifth-placed Rovers for fourth-bottom Derby, but did state he had a very healthy relationship with him during their year together at Ewood Park.

"I was very close to him, so it is hard to see a gaffer you're so close to leave," Travis told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"The gaffer didn't leave us in a bad position. Obviously, when he arrived we were down near the bottom and now we're in the top five".

Since Eustace left for Pride Park, Rovers have won both their matches under interim boss David Lowe, and Travis was quick to praise the club's new-look managerial set-up.

"He's [Lowe's] been driving things, he's been really good, and even [first-team technical coach and head of player development] Damien Johnson alongside him is tactically a really good football coach," Travis added.