Blackburn Rovers manager news: Slaven Bilic 'talks', Robbie Savage reaction, David Wagner stance | OneFootball

Football League World looks at the latest news in Blackburn Rovers' ongoing managerial hunt

The rumour mill is spinning at Blackburn Rovers following the recent sacking of Valerien Ismael, with a swift and shrewd replacement required in order to avoid suffering relegation to League One.

A whole host of names have already been linked with the job at Ewood Park upon Ismael's sacking, which was confirmed on deadline day after a wretched winless run of eight games saw the side plunge into the Championship relegation zone.

Blackburn have, of course, moved out of the drop zone after returning to winning ways with a slender 1-0 victory over bottom-placed outfit Sheffield Wednesday - albeit on goal difference over West Bromwich Albion in 22nd - though the threat of relegation lingers and the margin for error remains scarce.

The Rovers faithful will hope for an imminent breakthrough in Blackburn's search for a successor to Ismael as the Lancashire side bid to move away from relegation trouble in the remainder of the campaign, and there has been no shortage of links across recent days.

With that in mind, Football League World has duly looked at the latest emerging updates in Blackburn's new manager search.

4

3 ? ? Slaven Bilic 'talks' claim emerges at Blackburn Rovers amid West Ham threat

One of the most significant recent updates surrounding the saga involves Slaven Bilic, who is reportedly of interest to Blackburn's hierarchy.

As reported yesterday by Alan Nixon of The Sun - via his exclusive Patreon service - Blackburn are eager to undertake talks with Bilic in an effort to convince the ex-West Brom and Watford boss to move to Ewood Park.

Bilic is available on the managerial market, having been out of work since his departure from Saudi Pro League side Al Fateh in the summer of 2024. Indeed, Nixon has claimed that contact has been made, albeit with "mixed signals" in return.

Nixon's report describes how Bilic, despite his interest in returning to the dugout, is conscious of more significant jobs presenting themselves, with the Serbian potentially in line for a reunion at Premier League strugglers West Ham United if Nuno Espirito Santo is relieved of his duties.

Bilic, of course, is just one of a number of targets that Blackburn's key decision-makers will be mulling over in the coming days, but his appointment hardly feels likely at this moment in time.

Elsewhere, Robbie Savage emerged as a shock reported candidate for the job at Ewood Park earlier today when Football Insider described the current Forest Green Rovers boss as a "top contender" to take over from Ismael.

Savage, however, quickly played down such rumours, taking to X on Wednesday afternoon to respond with ridicule.

The former Welsh international did make 76 appearances for Blackburn throughout a three-year period during his playing career, which consisted of spells in the Premier League and the second-tier, although his stance on potentially returning to the club in a managerial capacity appears clear.

Savage turned to management with Macclesfield in 2024 and earned a move to Forest Green just last summer, with the Gloucestershire-based outfit currently in the National League promotion race under his leadership.

1 ? ? David Wagner's Blackburn Rovers stance emerges

In another update, David Wagner's stance on potentially returning to the Championship with Blackburn has emerged.

The ex-Huddersfield Town and Norwich City boss was cited as a potential candidate in a report from Alan Nixon, having been out of action since his contentious dismissal from Carrow Road following defeat to Leeds United in the 2024 Championship play-off semi-finals.

However, Nixon himself has since reported that Wagner is not keen on heading to the North West to strengthen Blackburn's survival bid, with the German not the only manager electing against the job in recent days.

Nixon's report added that Danish manager Bo Svensson has also been considered, but that too appears an unlikely prospect amid links to Werder Bremen.