Tony Mowbray says Rovers can’t wait forever for responses to contract offers made to Craig Conway and Jack Rodwell.
Rovers revealed the club they were in talks with the out-of-contract pair who were regulars in the squad this season in their retained list released on Wednesday.
Both Conway and Rodwell will weigh up their options before deciding whether or not to extend their time at Ewood Park, but will be given deadlines to work to.
They featured 22 and 24 times respectively in 2018/19, with Mowbray admitting he hasn’t made any ‘false promises’ to the pair over their potential game-time next season.
“I think they’re wonderful lads and good footballers,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“How much game are they going to get? I don’t want to make false promises.
“I’m more than happy to have them around our building and competing to try and get in the team.
“If they want to do something else and have greater clarity of their starting opportunities somewhere else, then good luck to them.”
Conway has spent five-and-a-half years at the club since arriving from Cardiff City, but despite playing 24 times, only nine of those came from the start in the Championship.
The winger, who turned 34 earlier this month, made his 200th appearance for Rovers in the final day draw with Swansea City.
He agreed a one year deal last summer, with the option of a further 12 months, but he failed to make the required number of starts to trigger that.
Rodwell meanwhile, operated in both central defence and central midfield after joining as a free agent following a troubled time at Sunderland.
Mowbray is an admirer of the 28-year-old’s versatility and hasn’t closed the door on an extended stay.
However, with arrivals expected in both positions this summer, that may well move him further down the pecking order.
“Craig wants to play and he hasn’t played enough,” Mowbray added.
“I think he’s a fantastic character in our dressing room, I think he brings all the right qualities and for Craig it’s just a balance of how much he wants to play.
“I try and be honest with my players. Is it going to be much different next season, is he going to play more football? He might do, but he might not.
“He will assess his options but we can’t give him forever to do that.
“He will have a period of time to consider our offer or he’s going to move on and I’m quite flexible on that.”
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