GARY Bowyer has proved throughout his Rovers reign that he can make a little go a long way.
One of the biggest frustrations of the club’s Financial Fair Play embargo, then, is that he is being denied the chance to do that, a consequence of the millions wasted by his Ewood Park predecessors.
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But even if Bowyer was given the licence to go back into the market, and he admits that could be another year away, it is unlikely he will ever make better signings than the double deal he did with Cardiff in January 2014.
A combined £300,000 fee for Rudy Gestede and Craig Conway looked good business at the time.
But 15 months on it appears nothing short of daylight robbery.
When Gestede connected with yet another telling Conway cross to put in Rovers front against Millwall on Tuesday, it took his tally for the term up to 20 and brought the total number of goals he has scored since his £200,000 switch from Cardiff to 32 in just 50 starts.
It is a remarkable return.
As is the number of goals Conway has created since he followed Gestede from the Welsh capital for the even more modest sum of £100,000.
That’s 23 assists in 47 starts for Rovers now and no-one has been a bigger beneficiary of his deliveries than Gestede.
The irony of Gestede’s dramatic transformation into one of the most feared frontmen outside of the Premier League is that he, and strike-partner Jordan Rhodes, could hold the key to Rovers having their embargo lifted.
Sell both and the club would significantly reduce the losses it will make for this season and, maybe just maybe, bring them in line with Financial Fair Play requirements.
There is no question Rovers would be a lot worse off for losing one, and, dread to think, both of their prolific frontmen.
But Bowyer has shown, with the acquisitions of Gestede and Conway in particular, what he can do when given money, if even a little, to spend.
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