blackburn rangers They have been searching for a new head coach since the decision to part ways with Valerian Ismail in early February.
A 1-0 loss to Hull City at Ewood Park was the final straw as the result left the former Barnsley boss nine games without a win in all competitions.
One of the most intriguing links since the job emerged is that of Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage. Reportedly the club’s top target earlier this month.
However, the rumors have since died down and they appear to be making no progress on a deal to appoint the former Macclesfield tactician.
The 51-year-old has never coached above the National League, where he currently manages, and would be an extremely dangerous appointment for a team trying to avoid relegation from the National League. championship.
Blackburn Rovers to offer jobs to candidates
Along with Savage, Blackburn also had linked to interests According to former Wales and Sunderland manager Chris Coleman, Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smithand Experienced tactician Slaven Bilic.
However, the club appear to have decided to drop all these reported candidates as they inch closer to their first-choice target.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his PatreonBlackburn Rovers are prepared to offer personal terms to free agent manager Gary Rowett in a bid to eventually replace Ismail.
Reporters claim they expect a quick decision from the former Oxford United manager, who left their Championship rivals in December and has been unemployed since.
Nixon added that the club were trying to agree a deal that would see the experienced English manager arrive at Ewood Park on a contract until the summer of 2028.
Elliot Jackson, Lancashire Telegraph Rangers are reportedly in talks with Rowett over a deal to bring him to the club, lending further credence to the claims.
Why Gary Rowett could be Blackburn’s new Tony Mowbray
To be fair, Rangers are still looking for a manager who can provide them with the stability that Tony Mowbray did during his time at the club.
Jon Dahl Tomasson failed to last two full seasons before quitting after finishing seventh in the Championship at Ewood Park, while Mowbray managed the club for five full seasons after joining at the end of the 2016/17 season.
In those five full seasons, the England manager guided Rangers from League One all the way to mid-table or above, never finishing lower than 15th.
Blackburn have yet to complete two full seasons without a permanent manager since Mowbray’s move from Ewood Park. Thomason managed the team for approximately 18 months, with John Eustace and Ismael managing the team for 12 months each.
However, Rowett has proven in the past that he can bring stability to a Championship side. He spent two-and-a-half seasons in charge at Birmingham and four years at Millwall before leaving in 2023.
The 4-2-3-1 manager was sacked by Oxford this season after losing 11 of their opening 23 games, but he has maintained the team’s form since joining midway through the 2024/25 season, leading them to a 17th-place finish.
Reuter has played 418 games in the Championship during his career, averaging 1.46 points per game, and that average would give Blackburn 54 points in the final 15 games of the season, which should be enough to keep Rangers in the league.
While it’s not an exact science as it consists of different highs and lows for several clubs, it shows that he knows how to get consistent results to keep the team in this league.
|
Gary Rowett at Millwall |
||
|---|---|---|
|
season |
game |
league ranking |
|
23/24 |
11 |
No. 15 |
|
22/23 |
46 |
No. 8 |
|
21/22 |
46 |
No. 9 |
|
20/21 |
46 |
No. 11 |
|
19/20 |
33 |
No. 8 |
Rowett’s time in the Championship at Millwall was not too dissimilar to what Mowbray achieved in the league with Blackburn during his time at Ewood Park, with Mowbray never finishing lower than 15th and remaining consistent for several years.
With Blackburn currently in relegation trouble and currently in the bottom three, appointing a manager with such experience in the second tier could be a wise move.
It’s not the most exciting appointment ever. Rowett is not an up-and-coming coach with an exciting style, nor is he a respected coach who coaches at a higher level.
However, he is exactly what Rangers need at the moment as they have found their niche and due to his experience.







