Blackburn Rovers are considering a sensational return for Mark Hughes to help save them from relegation.
The Championship strugglers are looking for a new manager after sacking Valerien Ismael following a dismal run of form.
They’ve picked up no victories in their last nine matches in all competitions, and their slump has seen them drop into the bottom three with little optimism of survival.
Blackburn Rovers Could Target Mark Hughes
Reports from TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook claim the Rovers owners may look to appoint Hughes, 18 years after he was last at Ewood Park.
The 62-year-old is the current manager of Carlisle in the National League, and his side sit in third, six points off the top.
The Blackburn hierarchy are eyeing a manager with experience and the know-how of Championship football to help their quest to avoid the drop.
Hughes spent four years at Ewood Park in 2004 and took them to three consecutive semi-finals, two in the FA Cup and one in the League Cup.
He also guided them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and signed the likes of Benni McCarthy, Roque Santa Cruz and Christopher Samba.
He’s still held in high regard at Blackburn, having won the League Cup and earned promotion as a player at the end of his career.
However, there are doubts as to whether Hughes will want to leave Carlisle at this stage of the season, despite being three leagues below Blackburn.
Hughes is reportedly extremely content with the National League club and would have serious doubts about returning to a side with highly controversial owners.
He is currently 12/1 in the betting for the next Blackburn Rovers manager market.
Slaven Bilic Is An Option
Former West Ham boss Bilic is waiting in the wings to return to the dugout in England.
Bilic is eager to make a return to management and was previously linked with a return to the Hammers when Nuno Espirito Santo was under big pressure.
The 57-year-old has been without work since August 2024, when he left his role at Saudi Pro League club Al-Fateh.
Alongside managing 111 games at West Ham, Bilic also spent 18 months with West Brom and secured promotion to the Premier League in the 2019/20 campaign.
He also spent six months at Watford, but was a victim of their managerial roulette after he was sacked with the club in ninth.
Blackburn are back in action tonight and have a golden opportunity to get back to winning ways when they host rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday.
