The two rejected demands that convinced John Eustace to turn his back on Blackburn for Derby County
The two rejected demands that convinced John Eustace to turn his back on Blackburn for Derby County
John Eustace has opted to join Derby County and made his decision after Blackburn Rovers “refused” to
deliver on assurances demanded by their outgoing manager.
According to an “exclusive” report in the Lancashire Telegraph, Eustace met the Blackburn board and
asked for a new contract and assurances over investment in his squad.
The report adds: “Rovers refused to extend his deal and provide those guarantees.
As a result, Eustace has said his goodbyes and will leave Blackburn Rovers.”
The relegation-threatened Rams are looking for a new manager after sacking Paul Warne on Friday,
and it seems old boy Eustace was clearly their top choice from day one – or even sooner,
according to the Telegraph.
In a backgrounder on Eustace’s likely exit,
they claim he had been linked with various vacancies during his time at Ewood Park,
citing interest from Preston North End, Coventry City and Hull City.
The Telegraph adds: “Derby were the first club to make a formal approach.
Sources suggest that they sounded out Eustace, whether directly or through intermediaries,
before sacking Paul Warne, as is often the case.
“The Blackburn Rovers head coach took training at lunchtime before holding crunch talks with the board. That meeting did not give Eustace the assurances he desired and he is now in the process of finalising a move to the Rams.”
It is understood that confirmation of the appointment is imminent, with the Telegraph claiming it could even come before this evening’s Pride Park clash with Oxford United, when caretaker boss Matt Hamshaw will be looking to build on Derby’s 1-1 draw at Norwich on Saturday, a result that halted a run of seven successive league defeats.
The Telegraph explains: “Whilst Derby County are in a far more perilous position, Eustace is understood to have taken a long-term view on the project on offer at Pride Park. The Rams have shown willingness to back the head coach over an extended period and, even if they’re relegated, he believes they have an infrastructure that can be successful over several years.
“That is a damning indictment on the Rovers board and the perceived lack of ambition at the club. Though the team sit sixth in the table, they have invested circa £3.5million in the last two transfer windows on permanent additions, having recouped around £30m from the sales of Sam Szmodics and Adam Wharton.”
Failure to back the manager, plus Pride Park being much closer to his family home, are two reasons cited for Eustace moving on.Many observers have been baffled as to why Eustace would quit a club in sixth place in the Championship for one in the bottom three and fighting to retain their status after winning promotion from League One only last May.
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