Blackburn Rovers director of football Shebby Singh has hinted that the club may struggle to hang on to some of its best players this summer.

Junior Hoilett is free to leave Ewood Park following the expiration of his contract, while Yakubu, Mauro Formica, Steven Nzonzi, Paul Robinson, Scott Dann, Gael Givet and Martin Olsson have all been linked with moves away.

Singh concedes that it would be foolish to keep unhappy individuals and he is confident that the club's young players like Jason Lowe, Grant Hanley and Adam Henley are capable of filling any voids left by their more experienced teammates.

He said: "We don't want to lose anyone but, under the circumstances, if there are players that we cannot hang on to then we will have to let them go. There is no doubt about that. We can't keep unhappy players because by letting unhappy players go it will create more opportunities for the local players.

"I think the time has come now to reward the boys who have come through from the academy. Look at Jason Lowe. I don't think Jason Lowe would have gotten a look in, now he is considered one of the senior players.

"We want to keep everyone, but if there is someone who is really, really unhappy we can't have that. I think last season from the outside looking in, I think certain players were unhappy and that created a very, very bad atmosphere."

Singh, who was appointed by Rovers on Monday, reassured manager Steve Kean that his job is safe earlier this week.