Why Bradley Dack Could Be Crucial In Bringing Blackburn Back To The Championship
Gillingham star Bradley Dack has moved to League One side Blackburn Rovers in a £750,000 deal. The attacking midfield player is heading to Ewood Park on a three-year contract and is seen as the man to help Rovers bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.
The 23-year-old has moved to further his fledgling career after a successful spell in Kent, though his most recent form has arguably taken a dip. Previously though he was flying at this level and in fact was named as League One player of the year back in 2016.
His form that season led to him being the subject of a £2million from Bristol City which ultimately failed, making Blackburn’s acquisition of the playing look like a bargain now. Despite apparently not being worth that money all of a sudden, Dack still picked up the young player of the year award at his club last season and retains plenty of ability and potential.
The former Charlton youth midfielder had just a year left on his Gillingham deal, part of the reason for the knock-down price perhaps, and had been on the books for five years. Former England under-21 boss Peter Taylor can be credited for tying Dack down to the club when, as manager of the Gills, he handed the player an extended contract until 2018 and enabling them to command a fee for him upon his departure.
Dack made his debut for Gillingham under Martin Allen and since his first game in a League Cup game back in 2012 he has gone from strength to strength. Dack can be fiery at times and in fact missed the final four games of last season having been sent off for dissent. However, a move now to a new club may provide him with a fresh outlook.
160 league games for Gillingham has led to Dack gaining a ton of experience and Blackburn will know too well that when looking to be promoted out of a league, one of the keys is to have players at your disposal who know the competition inside out.
A League One player of the year certainly fits into that category for the Lancashire club and Dack, along with the undoubted Championship talent which will stay at the club, can drag them kicking and screaming up the division and back to the second tier.