A look at the former Rovers players who are searching for new clubs this summer.

Junior Hoilett  (Cardiff City)

Background: Leaving the Bluebirds after five years in south Wales, scoring 25 goals in his 145 and was part of the team promoted from the Championship in 2017/18. The winger, now 30, moved to QPR in 2012 after leaving Rovers and spent four years at Loftus Road. ‘It’s been a pleasure to call Cardiff my home for the past five years,’ Hoilett wrote, announcing his departure.

Time at Ewood Park: A long contract saga saw him eventually leave after relegation from the Premier League in 2012, Rovers getting a compensation fee for the Canadian international who also ran down his deal at Loftus Road and then the Cardiff City Stadium. Was a shining light for Rovers in a difficult time, and scored 12 times in the Premier League after graduating through the Academy.

Jayson Leutwiler (Huddersfield)

Background: The ‘keeper finds himself as a free agent for the second successive summer after leaving the Championship side without making an appearance. The 32-year-old joined in February on a short-term deal after leaving Fleetwood Town in January, a surprise departure having started 18 matches for the Cod Army between October and the New Year.

Time at Ewood Park: Was signed as back-up to David Raya for the League One promotion season, leaving three years later after making 13 appearances in all competitions.

Frank Fielding (Millwall)

Background: Was a target for Rovers in the summer of 2018 as they looked to strengthen their goalkeeping department, but stayed with Bristol City and later agreed a two-year deal with Millwall in 2019. Was taken off on a stretcher on the opening day of the season, and that proved to be his only league appearance for the club who moved to sign Bartosz Bialkowski. Made just two appearances this season, but the 33-year-old has clocked up over 350 in his career.

Time at Ewood Park: The Blackburn-born ‘keeper never made a first-team appearance for the club, despite impressing on the international scene for the England age groups.  He spent a season on loan at Wycombe Wanderers before other temporary spells at Northampton, Rochdale, Leeds and Derby before signing for Derby County on a permanent basis in 2011.

Two other Rovers players to leave Championship clubs will be team-mates for next season.

Jordan Rhodes was released by Sheffield Wednesday but has already fixed up a move to Huddersfield Town, returning to the club where he scored 87 goals before signing for Rovers in 2012.

He will be joined at the John Smith’s Stadium by Matty Pearson, the Rovers Academy graduate having left Luton Town but agreed a deal with the Terriers.

Eddie Nolan (Crewe Alexandra)

Background: The defender finished the season on loan at Motherwell, and a team-mate of Tyler Magloire, after struggling to make an impact in the Crewe side in League One, having been a big part of their League Two promotion campaign. Now 32, Nolan played over 100 times for the Alex across a four year stay, his ninth different club since leaving Rovers.

Time at Ewood Park: His sole Rovers appearance came in a UEFA Cup win over Nancy in December 2006, replacing Andy Todd 28 minutes into the 1-0 victory at Ewood. Three months later he was playing in League Two for Stockport and has been a journeyman of the lower leagues since.

Josh Morris (Fleetwood Town)

Background: A second spell with the Cod Army has come to an end for the 29-year-old who played 31 times last season. Was something of a coup when re-joining in 2019 after leaving Scunthorpe where he scored 37 times in a three-season stay. He was something of a loan specialist between 2012 and 2015 but has regularly been among the goals playing on the left side of midfield.

Time at Ewood Park: Able to play at left back, or further forward, Morris clocked up 22 appearances for Rovers, though his debut was a late substitute in the 7-1 defeat at Manchester United in November 2010 but did play in the 2-1 win 12 months later. His appearances for Rovers were mixed in with loan spells at Yeovil, Rotherham, Carlisle and Fleetwood.

Dominic Samuel (Gillingham)

Background: The striker scored twice on his Gills debut, but just once more in the league, adding three more in the FA Cup to end an injury-hit season with six in 26 appearances. The 27-year-old was a surprise name on the list of released players, given the excitement over his signing 12 months earlier, though no length of contract was revealed at the time.

Time at Ewood Park: A £500,000 addition from Reading in 2017, Samuel missed a year of action with a cruciate ligament injury but battled back to become a regular in the squad towards the back end of the 2019/20 campaign before being released after three years, leaving with seven goals in 59 games to his name.

Alan Judge (Ipswich Town)

Background: His release was made public before the end of the season to avoid triggering a contract extension based upon his number of appearances. He managed 38 in 2020/21, but has struggled to overcome the injuries he suffered while with Brentford where he became one of the Championship’s best performers during his four-and-a-half year stay with the Bees between 2014 and January 2019.

Time at Ewood Park: The Republic of Ireland international managed just two appearances during a first spell with Rovers, a second coming in 2013/14 after impressing during his time with Notts County. Twelve appearances followed in the first half of that season, before a January loan move to Brentford which was later made permanent.  

In League Two, Jon Stead announced his retirement from the game after his time with Harrogate Town came to an end.

Stead will forever be fondly remembered at Ewood Park after his six goals in 13 appearances in 2003/04 helped Rovers pull clear of the relegation trouble they were in when he arrived.