New recruit Danny Murphy expects Blackburn to be in contention for an instant return to the Barclays Premier League next season.
Rovers ended an 11-year stay in the top flight following a turbulant campaign on and off the pitch last term, but an eye-catching summer recruitment drive is already underway, with Leon Best, Nuno Gomes and Fabio Nunes following Murphy through the doors at Ewood Park.
"Promotion is the expectation from everyone involved - the manager, the owners, Shebby (Singh, director of football), myself," said the 35-year-old former England international, who penned a two-year deal after leaving Fulham last week.
"There's no point sitting on the fence and saying 'we'll see how it goes, it'll be tough' - of course it will be tough, but if the majority of the squad that's here stays here with a few additions that the club are talking about adding, I think it would be crazy of us to talk about it any other way.
"We want to go up and we expect to go up and if you don't, you fail.
"But I've played with pressure at Liverpool years ago where you're expected to win every game and win trophies. I think it should bring the best out of most people. It usually does and for those who fall by the wayside, so be it.
