Blackburn Rovers next manager: Gary Rowett snubbed as international boss now a 'serious' contender

Blackburn Rovers are set to move on from talks with Gary Rowett to be their next manager as Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill is instead eyed to take over.

Rovers are after a new permanent boss following Valerien Ismael's dismissal on 2 February, with the club in the Championship relegation zone.

Damien Johnson is currently in charge on an interim basis, and he has led the club to a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and a 2-0 loss to Norwich City so far.

Several bosses both in and out of work have been linked to the vacant role, with Gary Rowett previously believed to be closing in on the Blackburn job after he was recently sacked by Oxford United.

Ewood Park chiefs were reportedly set to offer Rowett a two-year deal to take over immediately, but talks have now stalled, and they look set to press forward in their attempts to hire O'Neill.

Blackburn 'seriously explore' Michael O'Neill approach

O'Neill has previously taken charge of Stoke City in the Championship, in between separate spells as Northern Ireland boss.

The 56-year-old is currently three years into his second spell as his country's manager, but journalist Alan Nixon is reporting that he is now in the frame to take over at Ewood Park.

Rovers are ready to switch their managerial search from Rowett to O’Neill, after failing to reach an agreement on terms with the former.

The idea of O’Neill staying as Northern Ireland boss but also taking over at Blackburn is being "seriously explored", but it is unclear whether he would want to sign a long-term deal or only be appointed as an interim until the end of the season.

Who else has been in the running to be Blackburn's next boss?

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.