One of the several reasons cited for John Eustace's exit was related to incoming players. The head coach did not get the targets he desired in the January transfer window and left shortly after.

With John Park, previous Head of Recruitment, leaving so suddenly last year, it painted a picture of differing views in the transfer committee. The club opted not to replace him and instead have appointed several senior scouts to bolster their recruitment team.

However, Gestede insists there were never any signings made without the head coach's approval. That will continue to be the case, with a clear understanding with Valerien Ismael on the reality of Rovers' budget, the size of the summer task and the profile of players they need.

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"I don't think so (power struggle). I think we tried to discuss every position, every profile, the type of player you were looking for and then when we proposed some players, he (John) said no," Gestede told The Lancashire Telegraph at the start of the month.

"We proposed some players. He proposed some players to us and we discussed the players. We had, if you discuss January, we had one special target as a striker (Thomas-Asante)

"I cannot mention the name, but we were on the players from December to the end of January. In January it's a bit different markets where the teams are assessing the situation. There are injury crises also in their club.

"When we identified other positions, he knew the player. We discussed the player. We showed him the player. We never signed a player without showing the players and have a discussion about this."

"To be honest with you, I think John Park, it was a misalignment on the process," he added on his sudden exit. 

"We want to make sure we follow some type of process on the recruitment to minimize the risk when you sign a player. 

"That's not the way John Park was operating. We had a few discussions after the first transfer window in the summer. John didn't feel that he was aligned with what we wanted to do as a club. So the best solution was just to to go everybody in his own way."

Ismael was handed a three-and-a-half-year contract which runs until 2028. It was a show of backing from the board, who have not sacked a manager outright since Owen Coyle in 2017.

Whilst four points from Rovers' last two games is hopefully the start of a corner turned, it has been a difficult start for Ismael. Part of that is down to injuries, though the transition of playing style has also had teething issues.

That makes Ismael's first pre-season so important. Whilst the club were happy with Eustace's brand, his exit offered an opportunity to pivot to a more proactive approach, in the club's view.

That football requires different players, a new mentality and patience. Gestede reiterated that is why Ismael has been backed in his contract and publicly, to ensure he has the right tools to carry out their long-term strategy.

"The club has never been like a sacking club, we want to have stability," Gestede said.

"We want the head coach to come to us feeling that he's got the support from the board and then he's going to be able to build from there.

"It was important in terms of the length of the contract that it reflects our decision. That's what we did. Obviously, in some contracts, we had the situation with John Eustace.

"He had 18 months left on his contract, but he had a release clause in it.  We want stability to get to where we want to go. You need to be able to build. It will not happen overnight.

"It will not happen maybe in one season. It's a long-term project. So to make it happen, we need stability at the club."

"Val was one who aligned with what we wanted to do as a club. So that's the style of football he was playing with his teams. And that's the style of football he wants to play going forward," he added.

"Sometimes you have to step back and see the bigger picture. We are now in a transition. The team used to play a different style of football.

"It was successful. But now we want to transition to another style of football. We know sometimes the players need to adapt.

"At the end of the day, the result is still important in football. But we need to also understand the performance. So we have to be a bit more patient.

"Hopefully, now we've got the team in place, so we're going to be able to do the business a bit early. But at the end of August, we'll have some business to do and hopefully, we'll get the players early in the transfer window."