Former Blackburn Rovers defender David May believes the club's future will rely heavily on their youth system.

May, who enjoyed Premier League and European Champions League success during his nine-year Manchester United spell, started his career in the youth ranks at Ewood Park.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "Even at Manchester United they have Neville, Scholesy, Giggsy, if you have the nucleus of home grown players then that can only be good for the club and the area as well.

"The one thing is you have the club at heart. A lot of foreigners come over and they don't really care about the club, all they're worrying about is getting the money.

"So it's important you have kids coming through who are from the area as well. Phil Jones has had a fantastic start and long may it continue.

"There were a few of us when I was at Blackburn. There was me, Keith Hill, Jason Wilcox and Lenny Johnrose so we did well and all of us went on to be quite successful."