Blackburn Rovers are likely to have a new sponsor on the front of their famous blue and white shirts next season.

As I understand it, current sponsors HSA are pulling out in the summer and Rovers have already opened talks with several other leading companies about the possibility of filling the void.

HSA have backed Rovers to the tune of nearly £2 million over the last two years but their deal runs out at the end of the season and they have decided not to continue ploughing money into football sponsorship.

Rovers chief executive John Williams today confirmed it's 'highly likely' the team will have a new sponsor next term, and he also revealed the club have received one verbal offer already from a company who are keen to step into the breach.

"We are looking at a number of different possibilities at the moment but it looks like we could change sponsors next season," said Williams.

"The contract with HSA reaches a natural end in the summer and we have had dialogue with a number of parties about the possibility of them coming on board, although I'm not in a position to reveal exactly who they are at this stage.

"We've had a verbal offer from one of those parties but I can't say anything further than that at the moment."

HSA, who provide health care, entered new territory when they signed a deal to sponsor Rovers two years ago because they had never been involved in football commercially prior to that.

That link-up has since helped to raise the company's profile nationally but they are now considering ploughing their sponsorship funds into other areas away from the sport.

Jeremy Chadwick, group head of PR and communications at HSA, wouldn't confirm that the firm is not renewing its sponsorship.

He said: "The sponsorship of Blackburn Rovers Football Club is currently under review in line with the original contract.

"We have greatly enjoyed working with Rovers over the last two years. HSA's sponsorship of Blackburn has been a huge success for us and whatever the outcome of the mutual review, we wish them well for the future, especially the FA Cup semi-final next month."

Meanwhile, Rovers defender John Fitzgerald has had his loan to Bury extended by a further month.

The centre half has impressed since going to Gigg Lane in January but will miss tomorrow's game with Grimsby because he is in Israel with the Republic Of Ireland Under 21 squad.

Fitzgerald's current contract at Ewood expires in the summer.