It appears Blackburn Rovers have already identified their preferred option to replace Jon Dahl Tomasson at Ewood Park.
After 19 months in charge, the Dane is expected to leave the club prior to Saturday’s potentially crucial Championship relegation battle with Stoke City.
But while Tomasson‘s departure from Ewood Park is still yet to be officially announced, it seems Blackburn Rovers have decided who their top target is, to take over first-team affairs.
Blackburn Rovers want John Eustace as manager
According to the latest updates from the Lancashire Telegraph, John Eustace is the frontrunner to take over from Tomasson at Ewood Park.
Eustace has been out of work since being surprisingly sacked by Birmingham back in October. The 44-year-old had spent 15 months in charge of the Blues.
Last season saw him guide the Midlands club to 17th in the final Championship standings. That was despite many tipping them for relegation, amid issues off the field.
The current campaign saw Eustace take Birmingham into a top six spot, before he was sacked in October. It was a move that did not go down well with Blues fans, while the decision to replace him with Wayne Rooney proved disastrous.
With Blackburn now preparing to search for a replacement to Tomasson, it is thought that Eustace is the early frontrunner for the role.
The 44-year-old is apparently admired by the Rovers board, and is a favourite to be appointed by the club, rather than them looking for a caretaker in the interim.
Why Eustace could be an excellent appointment
It feels as though this would be a very smart appointment for Blackburn to make, if they can get it done.
Eustace did an excellent job in securing Championship safety for Birmingham last year, despite frustrations around the ownership of the club.
That is exactly the sort of task he would be taking on at Ewood Park. As a result, it seems as though he could fit the role very well indeed.
Since he is currently out of work, this move also lends itself to a swift appointment. That too could be useful for Blackburn in terms of hitting the ground running.
It also ought to mean there is no need to pay compensation, another benefit given Rovers financial situation.
Eustace also appears to be the popular choice among the club’s fanbase. Bringing him in could therefore help get fans onside to some extent, after some understandable recent frustrations.
With that in mind, this does feel like the type of appointment that Blackburn should be looking to complete sooner rather than later.