FORMER Blackburn Rovers captain Scott Dann believes Gary Bowyer can lead the club to promotion – given time.

Dann has no doubt that Rovers boss Bowyer has got the club moving in the right direction again after one of the most turbulent periods in its proud history.

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And the Crystal Palace centre back reckons he is building a side capable of winning a place back in the Premier League.

“With the squad they’ve got now and the type of lads Gary has brought in, and the coaching staff, I definitely think things have taken a turn for the better,” said Dann.

“And given time, with that squad, I think they’ve got a good chance of getting back into the Premier League.

“Hopefully that can be this season.”

Dann left Rovers to join Palace on the final day of the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old admits it was wrench to leave Ewood Park after two-and-a-half years with the club.

But he felt the chance to play Premier League football was too good to turn down.

“I enjoyed my time there, I was captain, so to leave a big club like Blackburn is never easy,” said Dann, who was part of the Rovers squad which was relegated from the top flight in 2012.

“I wanted to play in the Premier League and at the time it didn’t seem like we were going to get there last season.

“I don’t think anyone will blame me for leaving and going to play back in the Premier League.

“But it wasn’t an easy decision and I just hope they can get back into the Premier League come the end of this season.”

Dann made 106 appearances for Rovers, scoring seven goals, with his last coming in January’s FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester City at Ewood, following his move from Birmingham City in August 2011.

He said: “I had nearly two and a half years there, albeit it was a bit rocky and there were a lot of changes in that time, but I enjoyed it.

“There are some really good people who work for the club and obviously I hope they do well.”

Grant Hanley was named as Rovers’ new skipper after Dann’s departure.

And Hanley, 22, has been backed to grow into the role by his former centre-back partner.

Dann said: “He’s only 22 and he will go from strength to strength.

“The more games he plays the better he’s going to get.

“He’s obviously a really good player now and he’s only going to improve and being captain has given him that extra responsibility.

“Hopefully he can lead the lads back into the Premier League.”