Why Michael O’Neill might reject Blackburn Rovers stay - it involves the Venkys | OneFootball

O'Neill has helped to fend off the threat of relegation for Rovers - but it's no given that he'll remain at Ewood Park in the long-term

Blackburn Rovers have had somewhat of a struggle of a 2025-26 Championship season, with the majority of it spent in the bottom seven of the standings, but their second tier spot is now officially secure for the next campaign.

They did it the hard way, but after the February sacking of Valerien Ismael and the hiring of Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill, the former Premier League winners' fortunes turned on its head.

Under O'Neill, Rovers have won five matches since his appointment over two months ago, and have only lost four times in the league from 15 matches in charge, signifying just how much he's changed the culture at Ewood Park in a short space of time, making them very hard to break down.

Now their place in next season's Championship is offically secure though, Blackburn can go and look to the future - but it's not yet known as to whether that future will bring O'Neill along for the ride.

Will Michael O'Neill sign permanent Blackburn Rovers deal? One potential issue outlined

O'Neill only signed a short-term deal with Rovers, and along with his role as Northern Ireland head coach, the 56-year-old had two jobs at once, having had to take his international side to Italy in a FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off in March.

Contracted to manage the Green and White Army until 2028, O'Neill would have to be bought out of his national team contract by Blackburn if they wanted him for theirselves - it was reported by Alan Nixon in February not long after he arrived at Ewood Park that the Rovers hierarchy had a three-year deal waiting for him in the summer, and an update this week has suggested compensation would not be a problem.

However, one potential obstacle is the budget that O'Neill would be given by the club's absent owners the Venky's, who have not attended a Rovers match since January 2013.

Funding has been limited for new recruits in recent years as the Indian poultry giants face a constant battle to send their funding across from their home government, but a recent boost was given by a High Court in Delhi, where they were approved to send £18.4 million over to England for the running of the club.

With little in the way of assets to sell for big money like they have done in recent years though, with Sammie Szmodics and Adam Wharton the two biggest sales in the last few seasons, Rovers may have to wheel and deal this summer, and as per the aforementioned Nixon, the only 'grey area' about O'Neill taking the job is about the budget he is going to be handed by the club's ownership.

Rovers signed off on a number of seven-figure incomings this season, with Sidnei Tavares, Andri Gudjohnsen, Mathias Jorgensen and Ryoya Morishita all arriving in that ball park, although they were likely funded by the departures of long-serving first-teamers like Dom Hyam, Lewis Travis and Callum Brittain.

O'Neill though may need guarantees of his budget before signing on the dotted line, with Nixon insinuating other clubs could potentially circle in a bid to hire the veteran boss themselves.

The Venky's need to back Michael O'Neill - he could be Blackburn Rovers' saviour

The improvement at Blackburn under O'Neill is clear for all to see - and he could be the right man for the Venky's to finally back.

Rovers have lost good managers over the years mainly due to the lack of backing coming from the ownership - Jon Dahl Tomasson called them out following the Duncan McGuire debacle in the winter transfer window of 2024, and John Eustace swapped Ewood Park for his former club Derby County in 2025, despite the Rams at the time being in a relegation fight and Blackburn in the mix for the play-offs.

There was a common theme for both exits, and Blackburn now need to make sure they don't get stung again and lose something - or someone in this case - that has done them the world of good.