Callum Brittain is excited for “a new start” as Rovers aim to kick on in the Championship next season.

Brittain admits last term was tough as the side battled to beat the drop, eventually securing safety with victory at Leicester on the final day.

The versatile full-back says the side stuck together through all the ups and downs and believes they will be better from the experience.

“There was definitely relief after the game but I felt like we were always going to stay up, although it did get a bit stressful,” he told RoversTV.

“I knew we had the quality to stay up and we just needed to put everything together. We did in the last game, it was some performance and feeling. It was something I think the whole squad and staff deserved.

“Mentally, it was one of the toughest seasons I have had. We played well in some games and didn’t get what we deserved.

“We also had some bad performances that got punished. But we stuck together and got over the line. To have the off-season and put it behind you, we got the job done and it is a new start.”

Brittain is now optimistic that better times are ahead as the squad begins its first pre-season under John Eustace.

The 26-year-old is looking forward to getting some time on the grass with the head coach, which was not always the case during the final months of last season due to the hectic fixture list.

He recalled: “If you look back at the start of last season, we did really well. Then we had a lot of injuries and we didn’t have the biggest of squads.

“We were unlucky at times, there was a lot going on off the field as well. You can say it doesn’t affect you but it does as it gradually goes on.

“It was an eventful year but you can learn from it. You become more resilient from it and hopefully we won’t have a period like that again.”

Brittain added: “It wasn’t ideal when (Eustace) came in, we had about eight games on the bounce and barely trained once during that period. For him to implement his ideas and get us as fit as we can, ready for the first game, it is massive.

“I think some of the style was implemented but with the position we were in, it was tough to have the confidence to fully play the style we wanted to.

“We have got five or six weeks now to really knuckle down, get our heads down and work hard in training.”

The squad will be put through their paces in the coming weeks to make sure they are ready for Derby on the opening day.

“As soon as I sat down on the first day, it felt like I had been here yesterday,” Britain grinned.

“It comes around so quickly but no-one looks forward to pre-season because it is hard work! It is nice to be back around the lads and get back to work.”