Blackburn Rovers set to sack Gary Rowett and turn to International boss

Blackburn Rovers are preparing to move on from Gary Rowett in the coming days after discussions over the managerial vacancy at Ewood Park failed to progress.

It has been more than a week since Valerien Ismael left the Lancashire club, and although Leicester City suffered a dramatic defeat to Southampton on Tuesday night, Rovers remain stuck in the Championship’s relegation zone.

Earlier this week, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill emerged as a candidate under consideration, and with uncertainty now surrounding Rowett’s position, club officials have decided to step up their interest in the 56-year-old.

O’Neill is still in charge of his national side, meaning Blackburn are weighing up a structure that could allow him to divide his responsibilities should he accept the role. Reports from Alan Nixon indicate that talks between Rovers and Rowett have reached an impasse, prompting the club to turn their focus elsewhere.

With Northern Ireland preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Italy in March, Blackburn are exploring the possibility of O’Neill combining both jobs on a part-time basis.

Under that arrangement, he would work closely with interim head coach Damien Johnson, with whom he shares a strong relationship.

Should he take the position, O’Neill would later need to decide whether to commit to Rovers on a long-term basis or return full-time to his international duties at the end of the season.

Managing club and country simultaneously would not be a new experience for O’Neill. In November 2019, he was appointed Stoke City manager while the club sat at the foot of the Championship table, guiding them clear of relegation and stabilising their league status in the following seasons.

During that spell, he also remained Northern Ireland boss and was set to oversee their Euro 2020 play-off fixtures before the pandemic delayed the matches, after which he stepped down in April 2020.

O’Neill will also be eager to help Northern Ireland secure only their fourth appearance at a World Cup — and their first since 1986.