DAVID Dunn is set to be offered a new contract to extend his stay at Blackburn Rovers.

Dunn is expected to miss Rovers’ final game of the season at Birmingham City today, kick-off 12.45pm, with the match coming too soon after he required 10 stitches in a gashed ankle at Millwall last week.

The 33-year-old is out of contract this summer and had feared that his time at the club could come to an end, admitting recently that he did not know whether he would be offered a new deal.

Dunn has spent 21 years at Rovers over two spells, separated only by four years at Birmingham, and it is understood that the club have now decided to offer him a new contract.

The former England international has received backing from Gary Bowyer, who has always stressed that he believes Dunn’s deep affiliation with the club and his performances on the field are a commodity worth keeping.

Bowyer’s current spell in charge of the first team ends after today’s game but as time goes on it is looking more and more likely that he will be offered the job on a permanent basis.

Global advisor Shebby Singh has not spoken to anyone else about the managerial vacancy but, regardless, it is believed that the intention to offer Dunn a new contract does not depend on Bowyer getting the job.

The terms and length of the contract are yet to be discussed, but Dunn publicly made it clear that his desire was to stay at Ewood Park and it seems likely that an agreement will be reached.

Last month Dunn said he was unsure who to speak to over a new contract, saying he dreaded the prospect of ending the season at St Andrew’s without knowing whether he had played his last ever game for the club.

Rovers had indicated that a decision was unlikely to be made on a contract until they knew who would be manager for next season.

Dunn has ended the campaign strongly, notably winning the Peter White Memorial Trophy for Rovers’ goal of the season after netting a dramatic late equaliser against Burnley in March.

As it turns out he will not play at Birmingham today but will now have the assurance of knowing that Rovers want to keep him for next season.

Bowyer reiterated that he hoped the club would not allow Dunn to leave this summer.

“I’m hoping certainly that it doesn’t come to that because he’s Blackburn Rovers through and through,” Bowyer said.

“That’s a decision for Dunny and the board to sort out but from my point of view it’s a no-brainer, he has to stay at this football club.

“The quality and experience he brings is valuable to us. He’s shown how much this club means to him.”

Rovers are lining up the possibility of bringing a new board member into the club to lead the decision making at Ewood Park.

The name in mind is thought to have experience in football and would be an external appointment if finalised.

There are no plans for a return for former chief executive John Williams but Rovers will also soon have to appoint a new finance director, with current incumbent Karen Silk currently working her notice after deciding to quit the club.

Further boardroom additions could yet be considered too, with one option being to install Singh to the board in some capacity.