Gary Rowett update revealed as Blackburn Rovers push to beat Leicester City to deal | OneFootball

Gary Rowett has been linked with two Championship vacancies in recent days

Blackburn Rovers have reportedly planned to speak to former Oxford United boss Gary Rowett over the possibility of the 51-year-old taking over at Ewood Park amid interest from his former club, Leicester City.

That is according to a report from Alan Nixon - via Patreon - which surfaced on Saturday evening, just hours after Rovers and the Foxes' respectively frustrating campaigns continued with away defeats.

After parting company with Valerien Ismael on Deadline Day, the East Lancashire side had emerged victorious over the Championship's crisis club, Sheffield Wednesday, in midweek at Ewood Park, but were defeated 2-0 by a resurgent Norwich City outfit at Carrow Road on Saturday lunchtime.

Blackburn's latest defeat, coupled with West Bromwich Albion's goalless draw with Stoke City at The Hawthorns saw the East Lancashire club rejoin the Owls and Oxford in the second tier's relegation zone, whilst Leicester are now level on points with them after being hit with a six-point deduction on Thursday afternoon after a lengthy period of uncertainty caused by financial breaches.

The East Midlands side parted ways with Marti Cifuentes after a 2-1 defeat to Oxford on January 24th, and they have failed to restore any sort of momentum under the interim management of Andy King.

Indeed, after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic last Saturday, Leicester were defeated narrowly by Birmingham City at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park over the weekend, and are now just outside the relegation places on goal difference with 15 matches of the campaign still to play.

As such, both Blackburn and Leicester remain in the hunt for their next permanent successor, with Damien Johnson and the aforementioned King now entering their latest weeks in interim charge.

However, it is Rovers who are looking to add to the Foxes' recent misery, as they look to appoint the vastly-experienced Rowett as soon as possible after suffering a handful of setbacks in their latest managerial search.

Blackburn Rovers hope to beat Leicester City to Gary Rowett managerial appointment

As per Nixon's aforementioned update, it was claimed that the Blackburn hierarchy plan to hold talks with Rowett within the next 48 hours, in a bid to wrap up their hunt for Ismael's permanent successor as soon as possible to give themselves a desired advantage in the fight to stave off relegation to League One.

The Bromsgrove native has been out of work for just over one month at present, having been relieved of his duties by Oxford on December 23rd, eventually being replaced by current U's boss, Matt Bloomfield at the start of January 2026.

Nixon states that Rowett has emerged as Blackburn's top candidate to take the job, and that the respective parties will meet for formal discussions as soon as possible.

However, there are reportedly two issues which must be ironed out before the former Derby County, Stoke and Millwall boss can potentially be confirmed as the next manager at Ewood Park.

The most high-profile of those is that the North West club are able to fend off interest from Leicester, after it was reported that Rowett was one of the Foxes' first candidates for the role alongside current Hearts boss, Derek McInnes.

It has also been claimed that the length of contract which either of the two parties are looking for could prove a sticking point, with Blackburn satisfied with offering a short-term contract, whilst the 51-year-old is looking for a long-term project should he return to management in a rather swift manner.

This comes after it was reported on Saturday that former West Ham United, West Brom and Watford boss, Slaven Bilic, had turned down an approach, with the Croatian not wanting to become a mid-season appointment.

Gary Rowett's experience could help Blackburn Rovers in their relegation battle

With Rovers in a desperate situation, a manager of Rowett's experience could be exactly what is required to steer them to safety in the final weeks of the season.

There is no denying, though, that it could also prove a tough ask, despite there being plenty of individual quality in the club's ranks - in particular, Todd Cantwell.

However, as Nixon states, it remains to be seen if they are able to negotiate their way past the two stumbling blocks, which could allow Leicester to pounce.