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Favourites to become new Blackburn manager as John Eustace leaves for Derby

Time to take a look at the favourites to become new Blackburn Rovers manager as John Eustace leaves for Derby County.

The 45 year old has signed a deal until the summer of 2028 and he will be joined by Assistant Head Coach Matt Gardiner and First Team Coach Keith Downing.

He leaves with Blackburn sitting 5th in the Championship with 48 points from 32 games played, while Derby are 21st with 29 points from 32 games played, level on points with Hull in 22nd (relegation zone) with teams around Derby having a game in hand.

BLACKBURN STATEMENT:

Blackburn Rovers can confirm that John Eustace has left his role as Head Coach to take up a position with another Championship club.

While we are disappointed by his decision to leave at this crucial stage of the season, we fully understand that the opportunity to move closer to his family and return to a former club played a significant role in his choice.

The club had hoped that John would see out the season and continue the fantastic work he has done, particularly after strengthening the squad in January and guiding us into a strong position in the league.

However, with 14 games remaining and a real chance to push for a play-off place, the focus remains on achieving our ambitions.

Football is always evolving, and while we part ways with John Eustace, this also presents an exciting opportunity for the new head coach to build on our current positive position.

We remain in a good place in the league and the togetherness of the players, staff and supporters can all play a huge role in making it a successful end to the season.

We would like to thank John Eustace, along with his assistants Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing, for their dedication and hard work over the past year. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

David Lowe will continue to take temporary charge of first-team affairs, supported by Damien Johnson, Ben Benson, Mike Sheron and Paul Butler, until a permanent successor is appointed.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW BLACKBURN MANAGER:

BetVictor – 13 Feb
Richie Wellens – 2/1
Lee Carsley – 2/1
Gary O’Neil – 5/1
Raphael Wicky – 6/1
Rob Edwards – 8/1
Ryan Lowe – 10/1
Aitor Karanka – 10/1

DERBY STATEMENT:

Derby County are delighted to announce the appointment of John Eustace as Head Coach.

John returns to Pride Park Stadium after two spells as a player, on loan in 2009 and for the final two years of his playing career from 2013-15.

Owner David Clowes said: “I’m excited to welcome John back to Derby County. Fans will remember him for his craft, commitment and intelligence. He was a real leader.

“I’ve followed his managerial career with interest, and it’s clear he has the qualities we need to maintain our progress.

“He helped both Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City avoid relegation, before taking Birmingham to sixth place prior to his departure. He has repeated that achievement at Blackburn Rovers, leaving behind a team in the play-off places.

“I am thrilled that he shares our belief in the potential of Derby County and that he wants to play a leading role in our plans.

“When we bought the club, I was moved by the passion, solidarity and shared belief that bonded all of us who cared about Derby County. From the players, to the staff and to every single fan, we shared a determination to save the club and drive it forward.

“It’s the same bond we need now as we get behind John and the players for these final 14 games. That bond was clear at Norwich last Saturday, a team fighting and refusing to be beaten, urged on by our magnificent support.

“This is now a season within a season and it’s time for that passion, solidarity and shared belief again, to show what the Rams mean to us all.”

John has signed a contract which will run until the summer of 2028 and takes up his position with immediate effect.

He will be joined by Matt Gardiner (Assistant Head Coach) and Keith Downing (First Team Coach) on the coaching staff.

– A midfielder in his playing days, Eustace began his career at Coventry City in 1998, before joining Stoke City in 2003 and Watford in 2008.

– The first of his stints with Derby came on loan in 2009 and, after returning to Watford, he eventually joined the Rams permanently in the summer of 2013.

– Eustace enjoyed the final two years of his career with Derby, playing 62 times in total and scoring three goals across his two spells, before retiring in 2015 after playing 434 games and scoring 34 goals in all.

– He stepped into management with Kidderminster Harriers in 2016 ahead of spending four years on the coaching staff at Queens Park Rangers between 2018 and 2022, as well as serving the Republic of Ireland senior Men’s coaching staff.

– Eustace returned to management with Birmingham City in the summer of 2022 and left the Blues early in the 2023/24 season despite being in a top six spot. He returned to management in February 2024 at Blackburn Rovers and, after guiding them to safety, he guided them into the top six in the current campaign.

– In total, Eustace has recorded 226 matches in management, winning 98 and drawing 53.

Fans reacted now that the favourites to become new Blackburn manager are revealed as John Eustace leaves for Derby…

@DavidSpeedie10: John should be ashamed of himself, we gave him a chance to shine and he’s turned around and left us when we needed him the most. Sadly loyalty is hard to find in the modern game and I hope the club can find someone who will finally lead us back to the premier league.

@Matt_Thorpe92: Inevitable has been confirmed. Bitterly disappointed with how this has been handled but what do you expect?14 games left. Back the boys and see what happens. Nothing changes however until those spiteful pricks go.

@amandaranda1875: He’s eventually GONE 😢 A more controlled “keeping the peace” statement @Rovers. It is right to thank Eustace 👍🏻 Can we all now never refer to @dcfcofficial by name but “another Championship club”, it amuses me. Unless of course they become a league 1 club 😘 #Rovers 💙

@lewylooster: I know, let’s all move on. The team was immense last night, held together by a bonded team, loyal coaches, and a desire to forget what’s happening in the background. Good luck, John, you’ll need it. We’ll see you in March. #RTID #ROVERS

@Ryan1151: I liked Eustace but you can’t come out talking about pulling together and then be the first one to bail out. Like it or not, his new players won’t forget that. #Rovers

@LeftBehindPoet:
Built by Jack Walker
Deserted by John Eustace
Coached by David Lowe
Led by LEWIS TRAVIS
Powered by Maktar Gueye
He’s Rovers number nine
#VenkysOut
#Rovers

@tomgrunshaw: Emotions running high, especially in light of last night’s success. As good as Eustace has been the last 12 months, the timing of this is jarring. No doubt Venkys and the board are the worst, but this squad, piecemeal and broken as it is, is still good enough for top 6

@harryfretwell: Happy with Lowe & co for now. Allows us to take our time with things and make sure we get the right manager!

@BavarianRovers: Good riddance 🐍🐍🐍 #Rovers

@brfctoby96: John Eustace’s #Rovers departure confirmed. A shame to see him go from a purely footballing perspective, given what he did and could have done with the club. Last night’s result though, is clear proof that this is far from decisive in regards to the rest of the season. Ultimately, Eustace had the chance to defy all odds and expectations to potentially take #Rovers to the top-flight just a few months from now. Surely you don’t walk away from that for a side battling Championship relegation rather than see it out if all is well in the background. Claims of “significant investment” when one in six signed last month (for a low six figure fee) will be at the club beyond this season, and reportedly not agreeing to a new deal or backing for Eustace despite his potential, says a lot about the ambitions of those in charge. Sell big, buy cheap may work for a bit, but when the only funds going into signings come from sales, and those low fee additions are no longer at the level of those they replace, they cannot then be sold for the same amount needed to keep the club going. That will of course then make it harder for #Rovers to attract the players – and perhaps manager – needed to keep the club moving in a positive direction. All feels a damming indictment on the current situation at Ewood.

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