Next Blackburn Rovers manager: Former Birmingham City boss is 'front runner'

John Eustace is being considered a front-runner for the Blackburn Rovers job - and he could potentially find himself in charge against Birmingham City.

The Lancashire club are said to be in discussions with Jon Dahl Tomasson about his future. Tomasson could depart Blackburn before their game against Stoke City on Saturday, and is said to be 'very keen' on the vacant Sweden job. Blackburn said yesterday that Tomasson had not quit or been sacked but there are 'serious doubts' as to whether he will be in the dugout at the weekend.

Blackburn are already said to be drawing up a list of potential candidates to replace Tomasson should he depart, and Eustace is top of the pile according to the Lancashire Telegraph. It is said that Eustace is 'admired' by the Rovers board and is currently leading the running to become the head coach.

Rovers would like the situation sorted swiftly and should Tomasson's departure be finalised then they would act quickly to bring in a successor rather than opting for a caretaker boss. It could mean that if Eustace is their preferred candidate that he could find himself either managing against Stoke at the weekend or against the very club that sacked him next Tuesday.

Birmingham City face Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew's on Tuesday, February 13, and that could potentially act as Eustace's first game if agreements can be reached. Eustace has been out of work after being controversially sacked by Blues back in October.

It's been three months since Eustace departed Birmingham with the club in the play-offs and since his sacking, he has been linked with several vacancies both in the Championship and League One.

The 44-year-old was manager of Birmingham for over a year and won 21 of his 63 games in charge, giving him a win percentage of 33.33%. He was relieved of his duties and replaced by Wayne Rooney but that did not have the desired affect and Birmingham slid down the table. Rooney was sacked in January and replaced by Tony Mowbray, who once managed Blackburn Rovers.