The 2016–17 season is Blackburn Rovers' 129th season as a professional football club and its fifth playing in the Championship. Along with competing in the Championship, the club will also participate in the FA Cup and League Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017. Rovers were relegated to League One on 7 May 2017, in spite of their 3–1 away win against Brentford, with results elsewhere going against them.
Summer Activity May
On 12 May Rovers announced a five-year deal with kit supplier Umbro.
On 20 May Rovers announced their retained list, Tommy Spurr, Matthew Kilgallon, Chris Taylor, Chris Brown, Lee Williamson, Nathan Delfouneso, Simon Eastwood and Simeon Jackson would all be free to talk to and sign for other clubs upon the expiry of their contracts on 30 June. However, several players have been informed that final decisions over their futures will be made once a new manager has been appointed. Those under 24, Jack Doyle and Connor Thomson have agreed 1 year deals, scholars Josh Askew, Ramirez Howarth and Lewis Travis have also agreed to sign professional terms. Stuart Callaway, David Carson, Modou Cham, Ryan Crump, Anton Forrester, Devarn Green, Sam Joel, Sam Lavelle, Jan Pirretas, Jordan Preston, Hyuga Tanner and Luke Wall have been released.
June
On 1 June Rovers announced that Owen Coyle has been appointed as new manager on a 2-year deal.
On 17 June Rovers announced the signing of Anthony Stokes on a 3-year deal, following his release from Celtic.
On 18 June it was confirmed that Goalkeeping Coach Laurence Batty had left the club and that new Rovers manager Owen Coyle was in the process of firming up a new coach who would be in place before the players started training.
On 21 June Rovers announced the signing of Stephen Hendrie on a season-long loan from West Ham United.
On 23 June Rovers announced the signing of Danny Graham on a 2-year deal, following his release from Sunderland.
On 23 June Oxford United announced the signing of Simon Eastwood following his contract expiry.
On 25 June Rovers announced the signing of Liam Feeney on a 2-year deal, following his release from Bolton Wanderers.
On 27 June Preston North End announced the signing of Tommy Spurr, who was offered a new contract by Rovers, on a 3-year deal following his contract expiry.
On 29 June Rovers announced that Alan Irvine has mutually agreed to leave the club with immediate effect.
On 29 June Rovers announced the signing of Jack Byrne on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
July
On 1 July Bolton Wanderers announced the signing of Chris Taylor following his contract expiry.
On 4 July Rovers announced Sandy Stewart as assistant manager.
On 12 July Port Vale announced signing of Anton Forrester on a 2-year deal, following his release.
On 18 July Walsall announced signing of Simeon Jackson on a 2-year deal, following his release.
On 21 July Rovers announced the sale of Grant Hanley to Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee.
On 25 July Burton Albion announced signing of Lee Williamson on a 1-year deal, following his release.
August
On 1 August Bradford City announced signing of Matthew Kilgallon on a 1-year deal, following his release.
On 2 August Rovers announced the signing of Gordon Greer on a 1-year deal, following his release from Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 3 August Rovers announced that Rob Kelly has mutually agreed to leave the club with immediate effect.
On 5 August Rovers announced the appointment of John Henry as first team coach.
On 5 August Bury announced signing of Chris Brown on a 1-year deal, following his release.
On 8 August Rovers announced John O'Sullivan has joined Accrington Stanley on loan until 7 January.
On 11 August Rovers announced the signing of Sam Gallagher on a season long loan from Southampton.
On 25 August Rovers announced the signing of Martin Samuelsen on a season long loan from West Ham United.
On 26 August Rovers announced Shane Duffy has joined Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.
On 26 August Rovers announced the double signing of Tommie Hoban on a season long loan from Watford and Derrick William on a 3-year deal from Bristol City.
On 29 August Rovers announced squad numbers for the development squad for the EFL Trophy.
On 31 August Rovers announced the signing of Charlie Mulgrew on a 3-year deal following his release Celtic.
On 31 August Rovers announced the signing of Marvin Emnes on loan from Swansea City until 17 January 2017.
September
On 21 September Rovers announced the signing of Wes Brown on a free transfer following his release from Sunderland in the summer, he will also help coach the u23s team.
November
On 22 November Rovers announced Martin Samuelsen has returned to West Ham United with immediate effect.
December
On 5 December Rovers were drawn away against QPR in the third-round of the FA Cup.
Winter Activity January
On 5 January Rovers announced the appointment of Paul Senior as Football Director.
On 6 January Rovers announced Jack Byrne has returned to Manchester City with immediate effect.
On 9 January Blackburn were drawn at home against either Barnsley/Blackpool in the 4th round of the FA Cup .
On 9 January Rovers announced promising youngsters Jack Doyle & Connor Thomson have signed new deals till 2019.
On 17 January Rovers announced John O'Sullivan has left the club by mutual consent.
On 20 January Rovers announced Scott Wharton has joined Cambridge United on loan until the end of the season.
On 24 January Rovers announced Josh Askew has joined Warrington Town on loan.
On 27 January Rovers announced promising young midfielder Joe Rankin-Costello has signed his first professional deal till 2019.
On 30 January Rovers announced Lucas João has joined on loan from Sheffield Wednesday until the end of the season.
On 31 January Rovers announced Marvin Emnes has rejoined on loan from Swansea City until the end of the season.
On 31 January Rovers announced Ben Marshall has left the club to join Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee.
February
On 11 February Rovers announced Ramirez Howarth has joined Skelmersdale United on loan.
On 15 February Rovers announced Matthew Platt and Connor Thompson have joined Barrow on loan.
On 21 February Rovers announced that manager Owen Coyle has left the club by mutual consent, assistant manager Sandy Stewart, first team coach John Henry and goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes have also left the club.
On 22 February Rovers announced the appointment of Tony Mowbray as the club's new head coach, with Head of Academy coach David Lowe stepping up to become Assistant Manager and David Dunn stepping up to become 1st Team Coach.
March
On 2 March Rovers announced goalkeeper David Raya has signed a new deal till 2019.
Squad information
Squad No. Name Nationality Position(s) Date of Birth (Age) Contract Expires Goalkeepers 1Jason SteeleGK 2018 33David RayaGK 2019 Defenders 2Adam HenleyDF 2017 3Gordon GreerDF 2017 4Tommie Hoban (on loan from Watford)DF — 5Derrick WilliamsDF 2019 6Jason LoweDF 2017 14Charlie MulgrewDF 2019 15Elliott WardDF 2018 20Stephen Hendrie (on loan from West Ham United)DF — 24Ryan NyambeDF 2018 30Wes BrownDF 2017 34Scott WhartonDF 2018 36Jack DoyleDF 2019 Midfielders 7Liam FeeneyMF 2018 21Hope AkpanMF 2017 23Danny GuthrieMF 2017 26Darragh LenihanMF 2019 27Willem TomlinsonMF 2018 28Connor MahoneyMF 2017 29Corry EvansMF 2019 31Elliott BennettMF 2018 32Craig ConwayMF 2018 Forwards 9Anthony StokesFW 2019 12Danny GrahamFW 2018 17Marvin Emnes (on loan from Swansea City)FW — 18Lucas João (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday)FW — 19Sam Gallagher (on loan from Southampton)FW —
Pre-season friendlies On 23 May 2016, Blackburn Rovers announced five pre-season friendlies, with a sixth friendly expected to be confirmed at a later date. The games are during, and follow a six-day training camp in Austria from July 4–10 which included a friendly against Austrian Bundesliga side SV Ried.
Upon returning to England following the training camp, Rovers had three hour long friendlies in the shape of a tournament against Morecambe and Bury at Morecambe's Globe Arena. The following week Rovers will travel to Rochdale for a friendly at Spotland Stadium and Blackpool four days later at Bloomfield Road.
Rovers only friendly at Ewood Park was finally announced on 22 June against second tier Spanish team Girona.
Championship Season League table
Result by round
Matches
EFL Cup
The first round draw of EFL Cup took place on Wednesday 22 June, Rovers were drawn away to League Two side Mansfield Town.
FA Cup
The first round draw of FA Cup took place on 12 December, Rovers were drawn away to Championship side Queens Park Rangers F.C.
EFL Trophy
Blackburn Development Squad entered the competition at the first round group stage and were drawn against Carlisle United, Fleetwood Town and Oldham Athletic in Northern Group D.
Backroom staff
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
|colspan="14"|Players out on loan:
|colspan="14"|Players that played for Blackburn Rovers this season that have left the club:
Goalscorers
RankNo.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupEFL CupTotal112FW Danny Graham121013219FW Sam Gallagher101011332MF Craig Conway6017417FW Marvin Emnes4004=31MF Elliott Bennett3104 69FW Anthony Stokes1023=18FW Lucas João3003=14DF Charlie Mulgrew3003922DF Shane Duffy*0022=21MF Hope Akpan10121134DF Scott Wharton0011=10MF Ben Marshall*1001 =30DF Wes Brown1001 =7MF Liam Feeney0101 =5DF Derrick Williams1001 =23MF Danny Guthrie1001 ——— Own goal4105Total515763
Disciplinary record
No.Pos.NameChampionshipFA CupEFL CupTotal 31MF Elliott Bennett 4000000004003DF Gordon Greer 4100000004108MF Jack Byrne * 0000001001006DF Jason Lowe 1300000000130010MF Ben Marshall* 60010000070029MF Corry Evans 30000000030022DF Shane Duffy* 21000000021021MF Hope Akpan 60100010070112FW Danny Graham 20000000020019FW Sam Gallagher 40000010050023MF Danny Guthrie 6000001007005DF Derrick Williams 10010000020014DF Marvin Emnes 10000010020026DF Darragh Lenihan 90100010010014DF Tommie Hoban 2000000002007MF Liam Feeney 10000000010014DF Charlie Mulgrew 30000000030032MF Craig Conway 30000000030024DF Ryan Nyambe 20000000020028MF Connor Mahoney 2000000002001GK Jason Steele 10000000010018FW Lucas João 100000000100Total71222006007922
Transfers and loans Summer Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1 July 2016 CF Danny Graham Sunderland Free transfer 1 July 2016 CF Anthony Stokes Celtic Free transfer 1 July 2016 RW Liam Feeney Bolton Wanderers Free transfer 2 August 2016 CB Gordon Greer Brighton & Hove Albion Free transfer 26 August 2016 CB Derrick Williams Bristol City Undisclosed (~£250,000) 31 August 2016 CB Charlie Mulgrew Celtic Free transfer 21 September 2016 CB Wes Brown Sunderland Free transfer
Total outgoing: ~£250,000
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Length Ref. 1 July 2016 LB Stephen Hendrie West Ham United Season-long 1 July 2016 CM Jack Byrne Manchester City 6 January 2017 11 August 2016 CF Sam Gallagher Southampton Season-long 25 August 2016 AM Martin Samuelsen West Ham United 22 November 2016 26 August 2016 CB Tommie Hoban Watford Season-long 31 August 2016 FW Marvin Emnes Swansea City 4 Month loan (17 January 2017)
Transfers out