Blackburn Rovers have appointed Adam Owen as Head of Technical Development in a long-awaited move.

Owen has been lined up for several weeks to finalise Rovers' behind-the-scenes overhaul. Rudy Gestede was appointed Head of Football Operations last month with John Park arriving as Head of Recruitment.

Rovers state that Owen will be 'tasked with overseeing and implementing best practices across various different departments, whilst developing a modern and defined strategy for the future of the club, ensuring the Academy structure and methodology is clearly aligned with that of the first team.'

“I’ve been working abroad for the last 10 years, in lots of different countries with different cultures, and now I felt it was a good opportunity for me to come back to the North West, but ultimately it is the club that excites me," Owen said.

“It’s a club that I’ve always seen as being a big developer of players. Located in a hotbed for football talent, Rovers have always maintained their status thanks to a prominent Academy, excellent facilities and a proud local support. It has always been a club that has interested me.

“Throughout my career, the process of developing younger players and putting them on the map is something that has always stimulated me, so when the opportunity came to join the club it was certainly something that fits with a lot of the principles that I’ve had throughout my career.

“You just have to look at Adam Wharton as a real success story and I think the key point is ‘who’s the next one?’ Lots of clubs are becoming a bit more sustainable from that point of view and I think the way this club wants to go, in terms of developing their own and seeing them progress, that’s one of the reasons why I’ve joined the club.”