JDT: Hyam-esque signings can help Blackburn Rovers make ‘bigger steps’

Hyam finished his debut season at Ewood Park by sweeping the player, and players’ player, of the season awards and becoming a virtual ever-present.

The 27-year-old proved to be a fine piece of business, playing 42 times since joining from Coventry City for £1.75m.

He was one of Rovers’ three permanent signings last summer and made an immediate impact on the starting line-up with a string of consistent displays at the back.

Tomasson believes signing players of a similar profile to Hyam, supplementing the young players already at the squad, will be key for Rovers to make progress quicker, but understands the financial element that is required.

Rovers spent just under £4.5m on three permanent signings last summer, with Callum Brittain and Sam Szmodics also arriving with previous Championship experience.

And Tomasson said: “Those of course are the players you need to make bigger steps in a shorter period.”

Meanwhile, have confirmed that Ethan Brierley is one of 10 players under contract for next season.

Dale published their retained list at the end of a season which saw them finish bottom of League Two and relegated to the National League.

That included Brierley who is under contract with the club until next summer.

He was all set for a move to Rovers in January, with the financials agreed and the player having undergone his medical.

However, it fell down at the 11th hour due to issues surrounding the submission of paperwork, with an independent panel ruling that Rovers had missed the deadline.

The registration of the teenager was therefore retained by Rochdale where he started the final 13 games of the season, having missed four matches due to the uncertainty surrounding his potential move.

Results picked up following his return, with 17 points from those 13 games in which he contributed two goals and five assists, albeit not enough to keep them in the Football League.

Rovers have continued to watch Brierley closely and are still expected to get a deal over the line for the 19-year-old.

They had looked at the prospect of a youth loan to tie Brierley up for the second half of the season, only for him to continue featuring for Rochdale.

With the original agreement no longer in place, a new deal had to be drawn up which Rovers are expected to get over the line this summer.

Brierley had spent time on trial with Sheffield United before Rovers moved to the front of the queue due to the Blades’ transfer embargo which, although now cleared, prevented them from making any signings in January.

Rochdale have begun preparations for next season by appointing former player Jimmy McNulty as their new head coach on a two-year contract. The 38-year-old has had two interim spells in charge previously, and will replace Jim Bentley who left in March.