Key Blackburn Rovers figure makes transfer appeal admission that will interest Nottingham Forest and Rochdale | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers Director of Football Gregg Broughton has admitted he is not confident that the club’s appeal against the EFL’s decision to block two transfers will be successful.

Deadline day had seen Rovers close to completing deals to sign midfielder’s Lewis O’Brien and Ethan Brierley from Nottingham Forest and Rochdale respectively.

O’Brien’s move would have seen him make the move to Ewood Park on loan with the option to buy, while Brierley was set to complete an immediate move to the club.

However, a late submission of certain paperwork after Tuesday night’s 11:00pm deadline, means the Football League has blocked the registration of those players.

Rovers have already confirmed that they will be appealing the decisions not to sanction those moves, although it seems Broughton is not overly optimistic of such action making any difference.

In an interview with the club’s TV channel, Broughton was asked how confident he is that those appeals will be successful (4:30), with the Blackburn Director responding by saying: “To be brutally honest, I’m not particularly confident.

“Not because I don’t think we’ve got really good reasons, because I do, but my understanding is that nobody has ever won an appeal against a late submission to the Football League.

“So we’re going to have to set a record if we are to do it this time round.”

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The Verdict

This will undoubtedly be hugely frustrating for those of a Blackburn Rovers persuasion.

It had felt throughout the window that some extra experience and physicality was badly needed in the centre of the park for Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, if they were to continue their push for promotion.

Given the key role he played in helping Huddersfield to the Championship play-off final last season, O’Brien would have been a huge coup for them to sign in that respect, while Brierley represents a very promising player for the future.

With that in mind, Rovers could be set to miss out considerably here, and there will certainly be questions asked if they do miss out on top six spot in the wake of what has happened here.