“Getting beyond a joke” – Blackburn Rovers frustration outlined as John Eustace, Derby County talk intensifies

February 10, 2025 Rules Anderson FOOTBALL 0

“Getting beyond a joke” – Blackburn Rovers frustration outlined as John Eustace, Derby County talk intensifies

“Getting beyond a joke” – Blackburn Rovers frustration outlined as John Eustace, Derby County talk intensifies

Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace is expected to hold talks with Derby County over their vacant managerial position.

The Rams are on the hunt for a new manager following the sacking of Paul Warne on Friday, and according to journalist John Percy, they have made an official approach for Eustace.

The Rams have reportedly activated the compensation clause of around £500,000 in Eustace’s contract, and he is set to inform the Blackburn hierarchy of his desire to hold discussions with the Championship strugglers, who currently sit in the relegation zone.

Speaking after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves in the FA Cup on Sunday, Eustace refused to shut down the possibility of a move to Derby, admitting that while he has been “very happy” at Rovers, he is keen to speak to the board about his future.

Eustace has been in charge at Ewood Park for exactly a year, and after keeping Blackburn in the division last season, his side currently sit sixth in the table, but he could now be set to depart to take over at Pride Park.

Championship table (as it stands 9th February)
Team P GD Pts
1 Leeds United 31 43 66
2 Sheffield United 31 21 64
3 Burnley 31 28 61
4 Sunderland 31 19 59
5 West Brom 31 13 47
6 Blackburn Rovers 31 4 45
7 Middlesbrough 30 10 44
8 Norwich City 31 7 43

Blackburn Rovers fan pundit reacts as Derby County make John Eustace approach

When asked for his thoughts on the speculation linking Eustace with a move to Derby, FLW’s Blackburn Rovers fan pundit Simon Middlehurst said that he expects the 45-year-old to depart, and he admitted that he would not blame him for leaving given the off-field issues at the club and his strong connection with the Rams.

“I think John Eustace is going to leave in the next 48 hours,” Simon told FLW.

“I wouldn’t blame him for leaving, but obviously it is very frustrating.

“During the transfer window, he expressed frustration at not getting players in, but the club did eventually get players in.

“You never know what’s going on behind closed doors and whether promises have been made or not, that’s the reason Jon Dahl Tomasson left, and Tony Mowbray also felt very distant from the owners as well.

“At the moment, there’s a divide among the fans and there’s a lot of frustration towards the owners.

“It’s getting beyond a joke now, and it’s becoming a bit of a circus.

“Eustace is probably the best manager that we’ve had for a while now.

“Clearly Derby have got ambitious owners and they want to see the club rise, he’s obviously a Derby legend as well, and he’s got family ties to the Midlands as well.

“I wouldn’t blame him, but obviously it is really annoying now and really frustrating.”

Losing John Eustace would be a devastating blow for Blackburn Rovers

Considering the outstanding job he has done at Ewood Park, it is difficult to overstate just how much of a blow it would be for Blackburn if Eustace was to depart for Derby.

In fairness to the Rovers board, they did back Eustace with six new signings during the January window, but he has experienced many of the same transfer frustrations as his predecessors, Tony Mowbray and Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Blackburn have lost seven of their last 11 league games, so Eustace may feel that it is unlikely his side will be able to achieve a play-off finish this season, and if he has reservations about the ownership, he could see the Rams as a better long-term option for his career, despite their current lowly position.

However, the fact that Eustace is even contemplating swapping a club sitting sixth for a club sitting 22nd is not a good reflection on the Rovers hierarchy, and should he decide to move on, the long-standing anger towards the Venky’s is likely to come to the surface again.

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