Steve Waggott says Tony Mowbray has demonstrated his skills as a manager to lead Rovers to promotion at the first attempt.

Mowbray remained in charge at Ewood Park despite relegation last season and has overseen a successful promotion campaign from League One.

Waggott has praised the impact of Mowbray who he feels is looking forward to the project that lies in front of him at Ewood Park.

And he believes the boss deserves great credit for the job he has done in his 14 months in charge.

The club’s chief executive said: “After the funding from the owners the most important person at a football club is the manager of the first-team.

“Tony has shown all his experience and skill in weaving this squad together.

“From the trauma of relegation to leading a team back at the first time of asking raises his stock, but he loves the club and knows this is a project.

“His focus is on the next level at this club and long may that continue.”

Rovers spent five years as a Championship club after relegation from the Premier League in 2011/12 before dropping in to League One last season.

They will be back playing second tier football next term after an immediate return to the Championship, with Waggott believing the decision not to make wholesale changes at the club last summer will bear fruit moving forward.

He added: “Coming in I saw that there had been a lot of investment in the infrastructure.

“The facilities at the senior training centre and Academy are nothing short of Premier League.

“The infrastructure of the club with the staffing levels is that of at least a Championship club and holding that firm was a brave decision but in hindsight after promotion it was the right decision.

“It doesn’t mean that we don’t have a big adjustment to gear back up (for the Championship), things are already in place so hopefully the transition in terms of administration should be quite seamless.”