Blackburn Rovers change involving Ewood Park is something you "can't see that ever happening" | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers have operated out of Ewood Park since 1890

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Blackburn Rovers have slowly regressed as a club over the past 30 years.

The East Lancashire outfit have a rich history in the English game, enjoying the unique status of being one of the founding members of the Football League.

They have won the FA Cup on six occasions, including three times in a row during the 1880s. Added to that are three top-flight league titles, with their most recent triumph coming during the Premier League era in 1995.

With local supporter Jack Walker providing the financial backing to achieve their success, Rovers wowed spectators on a weekly basis, as the likes of Alan Shearer, Tim Sherwood and Chris Sutton donned their famous blue and white shirt.

Times have changed since then though, and Blackburn have slipped ever further away from competing at the top of English football. Since their relegation to the Championship in 2012, Rovers haven’t finished in the Championship play-offs and even suffered relegation to League One in 2017.

One constant throughout that time has been their stadium, with Ewood Park playing host to Rovers’ home contests since 1890. However, as more teams move to new, modern grounds up and down the EFL, it could be argued that Blackburn’s stadium is potentially a factor holding them back from competing at the very top.

Football League World’s Blackburn Rovers fan pundit, Simon Middlehurst, doesn’t fully agree with this notion but believes that the ground could do with some much-needed TLC.

Blackburn Rovers advised to opt against Ewood Park move

“I can't see it happening,” stated Simon when queried over whether Blackburn could move to a new ground. “Ewood Park has always been Ewood Park.

“It has always been there.

“I can't see another new stadium elsewhere. The one thing that the club could do is maybe modify Ewood Park a little bit more.

“Modify one of the stands, the Riverside stand could probably do with a bit of an uplift.

“The outside could probably do with a bit of a clean. But regarding moving to a new stadium, I can't see that ever happening.

“It's Ewood Park, it's always been there, right from the beginning when the club first started. So, we should modify it and make it a bit fresher.”

Blackburn Rovers have bigger issues than Ewood Park to deal with first

Although updating Ewood Park would benefit Blackburn Rovers, especially given how a waterlogged pitch cost them a potential victory against Ipswich Town, it isn’t one of their primary issues at this moment in time.

The Venky’s ownership of the club has depressed supporters over the past 15 years, as they’ve watched their club slip from being Premier League regulars to a team that can’t finish in the Championship play-offs.

Rovers watched last season as then-manager John Eustace decided to exit the club to join Derby County, at a time when Blackburn were competing for a top six finish, whilst the Rams fought to stay in the division.

This highlighted just how desperate the situation currently is at Ewood Park and how on-field struggles must be the first priority to resolve before updating the stadium can be considered.

If they aren’t careful, Rovers could have to endure another painful season, where sights are set on remaining in the Championship instead of promotion to the Premier League.