BLACKBURN Rovers' chief executive John Williams today insisted the club will not be making wholesale changes in the transfer market this summer.

Williams and the Rovers board are ready to give Mark Hughes a transfer kitty of £3-4 million to spend on new players, with the emphasis being on finding a new striker.

But there won't be a big turnover of players coming in and out of the club with Hughes likely to sign a maximum of two - or maybe three - players.

The feeling within the corridors of power at Ewood is evolution rather than revolution maybe the way forward for the club following the boom and bust years under Graeme Souness.

And with players like Vratislav Gresko ready to come back into the equation after recovering from a serious knee injury, Hughes believes he has the basic ingredients for success, providing he can add one - or possibly two - new strikers to his squad.

Williams said: "It's all about stability. The way Mark sees it, he's going to have a revitalised Robbie Savage next season, and Vratty Gresko is also back in contention for a place after recovering from a serious injury, so there won't be wholesale changes.

"Mark is more about building on what he's got already rather than seeing it as a seasonal change, and after the progress we made during the second half of last season, he feels it's best that all our resources are ploughed into improving the striking department.

"We'd certainly like to bring in one up front and we might be able to afford a second, depending on who the players are.

"But it's all about balance. In the past we've maybe been guilty of making too many changes at one go and we want to learn from that."

Rovers are still actively pursuing a striker after lodging a bid for a mystery target a fortnight ago.

If that line of enquiry ends up coming to nothing then Hughes may switch his attention to Fulham's Andy Cole.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Stead has admitted Michael Gray played a significant role in persuading him to sign for Sunderland.

The England Under 21 international consulted Gray before agreeing to join the Black Cats and it was the former Sunderland skipper's glowing recommendation which ultimately convinced him that his future lay at the Stadium of Light.

"I have spoken to Michael quite a bit," said Stead, in reference to his former Blackburn team-mate.

"It was great to have someone to speak to for advice because he's a local lad. I went out for a meal with him a week ago and he was desperately trying to get me to sign.

"He said it was a fantastic club and certainly a club going forward. The things he said to me played a part in me coming here."

Stead sealed his £1.5 million move to Sunderland earlier this week after Rovers boss Mark Hughes made it clear he was not part of his future plans for the club.

Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy had tried to sign the 22-year-old 18 months ago before he opted to join Rovers from Huddersfield, but he finally landed his top summer target on Monday after the player snubbed a move to Charlton.

Stead added: "I know that the manager has been looking at me and was after me for quite a while.

"It was probably difficult for him when I chose Blackburn - but the main factor then was the Premiership, which is where every player wants to be.

"Now Sunderland are back in the big time, I'm looking forward to getting involved here and doing my bit.

"This area is a great place. I've got quite a few friends and also some family up here in South Shields, so it's not like I've never been up here before.

"It's an area I can see myself enjoying."