Gary Rowett closes in on Championship job as strugglers ‘ready to offer’ terms
Gary Rowett is close to becoming Blackburn Rovers’ new manager as they propose a two-year contract for him to take over at Ewood Park.
Rowett replaced Des Buckingham as Oxford boss midway through last season as they battled against relegation in their first season back in the second-tier since 1998-99.
He led the U’s to a respectable 17th-placed finish in 2024-25, but Rowett was sacked as Oxford boss in December after some early-season struggles with the club sat 22nd in the Championship.
Rowett has emerged as a contender to be Leicester City’s next boss since, with over 400 games managed in the Championship at the likes of Derby County, Birmingham City, Stoke City and Millwall.
Blackburn have been heavily linked with appointing Rowett to save them from relegation after Valerien Ismael’s dismissal, and he looks set to take over at Ewood Park in the very near future.
Blackburn to offer Rowett a two-year deal
Journalist Alan Nixon has reported that struggling Rovers are ready to offer and complete personal terms with Rowett, who is their first-choice target to succeed Ismael.
The club’s board have had a round of talks with candidates and are prepared to offer him a two-and-a-half-year contract, as well as bonuses.
Blackburn want a quick answer from the 51-year-old, as he would ideally be in place for their trip to QPR on Saturday.
Who else has been in the running to take over at Ewood Park?
Blackburn are in dire need of a new boss to galvanise their players and help them move away from the bottom three, as they sit 22nd in the Championship right now and are in real danger of dropping into League One.
Rowett could well be that man, but he is not the only candidate that has been considered, after former Burnley star Graham Alexander previously emerged as the favourite to be Rovers’ next manager.
Football Insider revealed last week that Robbie Savage is admired by Rovers’ chiefs as he impresses in charge of Forest Green, but he went on to distance himself from the job on social media.
Slaven Bilic has also been linked to Blackburn as he takes time out of management, but he is believed to be waiting for a more attractive post in English football.