Blackburn Rovers will target former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic if they decide to sack under pressure Valerien Ismael.
Ismael is fighting to save his job at Ewood Park with no victories in his last nine games in all competitions.
He’s currently the clear favourite in the Championship sack race after Javi Gracia resigned as Watford boss at the weekend.
A 1-0 home defeat against Hull City on Saturday left them in the bottom three, and their current form leaves little room for optimism in their quest for survival.
Blackburn Rovers Eye Slaven Bilic
According to talkSPORT, Bilic is waiting in the wings to become the new Blackburn Rovers manager if and when they decide to go in a new direction.
Bilic is eager to make a return to management and was previously linked with a return to West Ham 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.
He’d arrive at Blackburn with bags of experience and the know-how of achieving results in the Championship.
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.
Bilic’s links with Blackburn could be a clever ploy from the manager and his team to send a subtle message that he’s eager to step back into the dugout.
When West Ham sacked Graham Potter earlier this season, Bilic revealed he held talks over the vacant position before the board opted for Nuno.
Tony Mowbray Back At Blackburn?
Another name thrown into the mix is former boss Tony Mowbray.
Mowbray is currently the second favourite to become the next Blackburn Rovers manager behind former player Damien Duff.
Reports emerged at the weekend that the Blackburn hierarchy could make a sensational return for the 62-year-old, over three years since his departure.
Mowbray managed Blackburn for over five years, achieving promotion from League One and guiding them up to eighth in the Championship before leaving on the expiration of his contract.
Journalist Graeme Bailey posted on social media at the weekend: “Understand Blackburn Rovers are looking to bring back their legendary former boss Tony Mowbray and task him with keeping them in the Championship.
“Rovers are currently in the relegation zone, three points adrift of safety.”
Mowbray would certainly be a popular choice with the fanbase at a time when there’s huge unrest among supporters against their owners.
