As their search for a John Eustace replacement goes on, Blackburn Rovers are now reportedly set to open talks with a former Premier League midfielder as an alternative to the heavily linked Gary O’Neil.
Blackburn Rovers’ manager search
In the second half of the season with his side on course to finish inside the Championship play-off places, it seemed an absurd suggestion that Eustace would even consider swapping Blackburn for relegation-battling Derby County for even a second. Yet, here the Rams are, having welcomed their former player-turned-manager back with open arms.
Those at Ewood Park, meanwhile, have been left stranded and left to ponder exactly how they’re without a manager at such an important stage of the campaign. It’s a reality that they have at least realised quickly, however, springing into action on the hunt for a swift replacement.
One name on their list is O’Neil, who was sacked by Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in December and has been out of a job ever since. Reportedly set to hold talks with the former Bournemouth and Wolves boss this week, there’s little doubt that Blackburn would be making a shrewd appointment.
If it’s not to be O’Neil, however, then the Lancashire club seem destined to turn towards another former Premier League man. According to The Sun, Blackburn are now set to open talks with Luis Boa Morte over their vacant managerial role.
The former Arsenal and Southampton midfielder is reportedly keen on the job, despite the fact that he’s currently in charge of Guinea-Bissau after leaving his role as Marco Silva’s assistant manager at Fulham last season.
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The Blackburn job would be just the third of his managerial career, having been in charge of Sintrense in Portugal for a short period in 2017 before he took his latest aforementioned position. So, to say that those at Ewood Park would be taking a gamble would be quite the understatement.
Hiring Boa Morte would be a major gamble
There’s a time and a place to take a gamble and Ewood Park is certainly not bearing the look of Vegas as of late. The Lancashire club must simply take caution with their next appointment. With just 13 games remaining, Blackburn are in touching distance of sealing a play-off place, so the task must be getting over the line with a safer choice than Boa Morte.
As much as the former Arsenal midfielder enjoyed success as Silva’s Fulham assistant, Blackburn cannot afford to take the risk of handing a manager his first role in English football at such an important stage of their campaign.
Talks with O’Neil will certainly hand Blackburn chiefs a clearer idea of their next move and securing the former Wolves boss should be their priority. But if it’s not to be him, then they should turn their attention towards a candidate with equal experience.
As the managerial merry-go-round rumbles on in the Championship, season-defining decisions are about to be made.
