[themaclad]

Midfield pair Joe Rothwell and Bradley Johnson have left Blackburn Rovers after their contracts expired.

Rothwell departs after four years at Ewood Park since arriving from Oxford United.

The 27-year-old made 161 appearances and scored 11 goals, including playing 41 Championship games this season.

Johnson spent three years with the club following a switch from Derby County, with the 35-year-old featuring 86 times for them.

Rothwell's final game was in the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, which ended Blackburn's chances of making the play-offs.

However, Johnson's role in the team had diminished this season as he only started eight games, the last of which was a 1-0 loss to Stoke on Easter Monday.

[themaclad]

Rovers are in talks with Lenihan and Nyambe, but Rothwell has made it clear he wants to move on.

As well as Johnson, Jacob Davenport, Harry Chapman, Luke Brennan, Connor McBride, Sam Durrant and Joe Nolan are leaving after being told their deals will not be renewed.

The club have, however, taken up options to extend the contracts of Dan Butterworth, Tyler Magloire and Jordan Eastham until next year.

Chile international Brereton Diaz, 23, scored 22 goals this season and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs.

[themaclad]

Republic of Ireland defender Darragh Lenihan is to leave Blackburn Rovers after rejecting the offer of a new deal to stay at Ewood Park.

The 28-year-old, who was named club captain during his 11-year stay, scored 10 goals in 252 first-team games having come through the youth ranks.

Lenihan made his Rovers debut off the bench against Millwall in April 2015.

"Everyone at Rovers thanks Darragh for his service and wishes him well for the future," the club said in a statement.

During his time at the club, the Dubliner helped Rovers return to the Championship with promotion from League One in 2017-18, despite missing part of the season with a metatarsal injury.

He also played his part in keeping Rovers in the second tier, and in the race for the play-offs this past season, where he played 41 games and scored three goals en route to an eighth-place finish.