Blackburn Rovers “massive issue” outlined as Lewis Travis, Callum Brittain concerns emerge | OneFootball

FLW’s Blackburn Rovers fan pundit has admitted his concern about the club not being able to tie Lewis Travis and Callum Brittain to new deals.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to build on the positive end to the season they had under Valerien Ismael.

The Frenchman was under mounting pressure after failing to steady the ship following John Eustace’s departure, with the Lancashire outfit originally taking just two points from his first seven league games in charge.

But a resurrection surfaced following their comeback against Sheffield Wednesday, with Rovers going on to win four of their last five matches, although a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United on the final day wasn’t enough to leapfrog back into the top six.

However, it’s optimistic for Blackburn if they can transition last season’s form into the early stages of the 2025-26 campaign, as the club looks to recruit a squad that can suit the demands and style of Ismael.

But the summer hasn’t gone according to plan yet, with Alan Nixon reporting that Rovers are struggling to agree terms with Lewis Travis and Liam Brittain over new contracts.

Both players were instrumental to Blackburn competing towards the top end of the table, but with just a year remaining on the duo’s contracts, FLW’s Rovers fan pundit has weighed in with his thoughts on the ongoing situation.

Speaking to Football League World, Blackburn Rovers fan pundit Simon Middlehurst has pleaded with the hierarchy to show some ambition and agree contract extensions with Lewis Travis and Callum Brittain if they want to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Middlehurst said: “Yeah, it would be a massive issue. If you look at last season when John Eustace left, the way he left, and obviously the fans being in complete disarray, it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak with the owners.

“The owners need to be making a real statement. I think it was Rudy Gestede who went on Sam Allardyce’s podcast and said the owners are fully behind the club and show intent to wanting to get to the Premier League. Well, show intent by offering two massive players contracts they want, because that will show a statement that you’re backing the club, and you want to prove the fans wrong.

“Ultimately, you’re losing your two best players. Callum Brittain was by far one of the best players last season. Lewis Travis is the club captain. He’s a big presence in the changing rooms. You lose two players; there’s no way Blackburn are going to replace them.

“At the minute, we’re being linked with 21/22-year-olds from Belgium. That’s not showing the intent of getting to the Premier League, it’s just filling players with potential to what? To train them up and sell them on for a profit? It’s just one thing after the other.”

Blackburn Rovers promotion hopes hang on Lewis Travis, Callum Brittain futures

The pair of Lewis Travis and Callum Brittain were so vital to Blackburn’s push for the play-offs last season, with the club captain an immense protector to the backline, while Brittain was a source of guile and creativity when occupying the full-back role.

With the evident lack of investment from the Venky’s, it’s clear to see that the club won’t source better replacements if they move on, and losing such important players will only see Blackburn slip down the division next season.

The club must do all they can to get the duo to sign on the dotted line to maintain a promotion push, otherwise it could be another season of turmoil and disruption for Valerien Ismael to contend with.

If the ownership want to show any ambition, then they must do it now, otherwise it’s very difficult to see Rovers end their current 12-year exodus from the top-flight.