Right now, much of the scrutiny around Blackburn Rovers appears to be focused on the club’s board and backroom team.
Duncan McGuire’s proposed transfer from Orlando City looks to be on the brink of collapse after a late submission of paperwork, just as was the case with moves for Lewis O’Brien and Ethan Brierley last year.
As a result, there are plenty of questions about why this has been allowed to happen again, given the implications it may have between now and the end of the season.
However, on the pitch as well, there are questions that may need be asked of head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Rovers have won just once in their last 11 league games under the Dane; a run that has seen them slip to 18th in the Championship table, just five points clear of the relegation.
As a result, Tomasson’s own future at the club is arguably now under as much scrutiny as it has ever been.
Jon Dahl Tomasson exit could cause ‘change of tac’ for Blackburn
Speaking after Rovers’ 2-1 defeat at home to QPR on Saturday afternoon, Tomasson claimed he offered to leave the club for free last summer.
That apparently came after the club’s transfer budget was cut, when owners Venkys were placed under investigation by the Indian government.
With Tomasson likely to be frustrated with another botched transfer window, and given Blackburn are in form that would see many managers sacked, there may once again be uncertainty around his future.
Such a situation is generating discussion elsewhere, with Sam Parkin asked on the Championship Chat Podcast if Rovers can afford to lose Tomasson, given what is going on at the club right now.
Responding to that question, the former Ipswich, Luton and Swindon striker said:
“I would say they’ve had quite a concise identity under him. It’s not garnering results, but it would be a complete change of tac now wouldn’t it, to go for a kind of firefighter.
“But you look at the table now and we were quite bold to say it was going to be three from four a few weeks ago and now I’m looking at all those teams on 33 points, with QPR seven points from three games, all of a sudden we could have an incredible battle on our hands.”
Letting go of Tomasson would be a risk for Blackburn
Given the frustration around Blackburn’s current position, you can understand why some are suggesting they ought to part ways with Tomasson.
That though, would feel like a big gamble in the circumstances. The Dane has got Rovers playing some excellent football when they are on form, and it has been a combination of defensive errors and lack of experience that have cost the club on a number of occasions this season.
You hope therefore, that the January additions of two players who ought to strengthen the club in those aspects – Kyle McFadzean and John Fleck – could allow Blackburn to turn things around and kick on again under Tomasson.
Perhaps more pertinently though, is the fact that the problematic position Rovers find themselves in away from the pitch is unlikely to go unnoticed, given all the talk around the McGuire situation.
Certain managers may be reluctant to walk into a job that brings such challenges and uncertainty with it, meaning there may be very little guarantee they can replace and improve on Tomasson, if he was to leave.
As Parkin notes, a firefighter would also represent a significant change in approach to what these players are used to, meaning there would also be questions as to whether they could adapt to such an alteration quickly enough.
With all that in mind, it feels as though Blackburn would be taking a big risk if they were to willingly part company with Tomasson at this moment in time.