The former Manchester United youngster played a key role in the club's promotion success after arriving on a free transfer last summer from Oldham Athletic.

Wellens said: "This is a club that is going places and I was more than happy to sign on an extra two years to my current deal.

"The way we play football is one of the main reasons that I wanted to stay."

Assistant manager Richard O'Kelly said: "We're delighted with the news because Richie is a player who could play at the highest level. His technical ability is exceptional and the system we play gets the best out of him."

Wellens's performances last season attracted a host of Championship scouts to the Keepmoat Stadium.

O'Kelly said: "He would attract interest from other clubs. There are six or seven players who have attracted interest. He is one of those players who puts the icing on the cake."

Rovers, who entertain Newcastle United in a friendly tomorrow, will be keeping tabs on former Scottish international defender Steven Pressley following his release this summer by Celtic.

Pressley, 34, has already spent a week training with the Rovers squad and O'Kelly said: "He has now gone back to Scotland to work on his fitness. We didn't think he was quite the Steven Pressley we wanted – but it was still a good experience for both of us.

"He is experienced and a good talker and there might be an opportunity for him to come back down.

"If he does, it will be because we want to take him but right now we have moved onto other targets."

Former Barnsley goalkeeper Nick Colgan has signed a one-year deal with Sunderland after his release by Ipswich Town. The Republic of Ireland international spent short periods on trial with Bradford City and Scunthorpe United this summer.

Barnsley striker Istvan Ferenczi has completed a move to Hungarian club Ferencvaros.

Hull City will today open talks with Anthony Gardner after agreeing terms with Tottenham Hotspur over an initial loan move for the England international.

The 27-year-old is due to travel to East Yorkshire today and meet Phil Brown to discuss a temporary switch to the KC Stadium that could become permanent for a fee of around £2.5m in January.

Gardner, whose sole Three Lions appearance came against Sweden in 2004, is out of favour at White Hart Lane and spent the final few months of last season on loan at Everton.

Providing agreement is reached with the player today and he then passes a medical, the transfer would represent a tremendous coup for Hull with fellow Premier League newcomers Stoke City having also expressed an interest in the Stafford-born defender.

Hull chairman Paul Duffen told the Yorkshire Post: "We have agreed an initial loan deal with Tottenham that includes a fee to make the move permanent in January.

"Anthony is due in Hull (today) with his agent to discuss a possible move. Hopefully, everything can be finalised and the player will join us in the near future.

"He is an England international who we feel will benefit from being a big part of our team."

Gardner started his career with Port Vale under current Tigers assistant manager Brian Horton before moving to White Hart Lane for £1m in 2001.

Hull , meanwhile, are still waiting to finalise a medical for Marlon King after agreeing a £3m fee with Wigan Athletic earlier this week.

If the pair go on to complete their moves to the KC Stadium, it will take Brown's tally of signings to seven since Hull won promotion to the top flight.

George Boateng, Geovani, Bernard Mendy, Craig Fagan and Tony Warner have already joined the Premier League newcomers who are also still understood to be tracking Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell and Bolton Wanderers defender Abdoulaye Meite.

Another target is Delron Buckley, though Borussia Dortmund yesterday told Hull to increase their offer for the South African winger.

The 30-year-old, who attracted interest from Everton a couple of years ago, recently impressed on trial at the KC.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle has ended striker Gatis Kalnins's trial period with the Clarets.

Coyle said: "We thank Gatis for his time but we will not be pursuing this any further.

"We would like to wish him all the best."

Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz has opened talks with the club regarding a contract extension.

The 25-year-old has been at the Riverside for three years.