Former England interim manager Lee Carsley is now joint-favourite to be named the new Blackburn manager, with John Eustace seemingly on his way out of the club to take over at Derby.
The England U21 manager is now 2/1, level with former Luton boss Rob Edwards to take over the hotseat at Ewood Park.
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Eustace took over at Blackburn 12 months ago, four months on from his bizarre sacking at Birmingham, where he was given his marching orders despite the club being in the top six, with the club hiring Wayne Rooney in his place and the season ultimately ended in relegation for the Blues.
Blackburn almost met the same fate, finishing last season just three points clear of the relegation zone and Rovers fans would have feared the worst after the sale of Sammie Szmodics in the summer, last season’s Championship Golden Boot winner.
But Eustace currently has the Lancashire side in the play-off places, and has surprised many by expressing his wish to leave the club to go and take charge of his former club from his playing days, Derby, a side in the midst of a relegation fight.
The Blackburn owners have now been forced to put together a shortlist of replacements for the 45-year-old, though he will be leaving the club in a good place and in an attractive position for new suitors.
Lee Carsley, the current joint-favourite to be named Eustace’s successor, has spent the last three and a half years as manager of England U21, though spent the final three months of 2024 as Gareth Southgate’s temporary replacement as England’s men’s team’s senior side, gaining Nations League promotion back to the top flight.
The 50-year-old two years as a player at Blackburn over the turn of the millennium, but has never managed full time at club level, aside from a handful of stints as caretaker manager at the likes of Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham.
Blackburn next manager odds (talkSPORT BET)
- Lee Carsley – 2/1
- Rob Edwards – 2/1
- Gary O’Neil – 4/1
- Ryan Lowe – 8/1
- Steve Cooper – 10/1
- Damien Duff – 10/1
- David Lowe – 12/1
- Ian Evatt – 14/1
- Neil Harris – 14/1
- Russell Martin – 14/1
See all ‘Next Blackburn manager odds’ HERE
Rob Edwards is also among the favourites to take over at Ewood Park, a month on from his sacking at Luton after failing in his bid for promotion back to the Premier League after the club’s relegation from the top flight last season.
The 42-year-old has experience in leading teams dubbed as underdogs to promotion to the promised land of the Premier League despite being on much smaller budgets than their direct competitors, which could appeal to Blackburn as the 1995 champions of England bid for a return to the top flight after 13 years.
Another name linked with Ewood Park hotseat is the former Bournemouth and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, priced at 4/1, who was sacked from his role at Molineux in December earlier this season.
The 41-year-old has never managed a senior team outside of the Premier League but could be drawn back into employment by a Blackburn side very much in the race for promotion via the play-offs.
Ryan Lowe, who has been out of a job since his sacking by Preston in August, is also in the running at 8/1.
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