Why Michael O'Neill is not accepting new Blackburn Rovers agreement - there are two reasons | OneFootball

Michael O'Neill will reportedly take his time before deciding whether to stay on as Blackburn Rovers head coach beyond the end of the season.

Blackburn Rovers have secured Championship survival after an upturn in form under Michael O'Neill, but it remains unclear whether he will stay on at Ewood Park next season.

After the sacking of Valerien Ismael in February, Blackburn were linked with a host of managers, including Gary Rowett and Slaven Bilic, but they eventually appointed O'Neill on a short-term contract until the end of the season after agreeing an arrangement allowing him to combine the Ewood Park role with his duties as Northern Ireland boss.

Rovers were languishing in the relegation zone when O'Neill arrived, but after a significant improvement under the 56-year-old, they sealed Championship safety last week with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

O'Neill has won five, drawn five and lost four of his 14 games in charge of Blackburn so far, but he is yet to commit his future to the club beyond the end of the season, meaning the home clash against Leicester City on Saturday could be his final game at the helm.

It seems Rovers are keen to keep hold of O'Neill, with the club reportedly having put a three-year deal on the table, but it may be some time before he makes a final decision on whether to remain in Lancashire.

Big update emerges on Michael O'Neill, Blackburn Rovers situation as delay explained

Speaking after Northern Ireland's World Cup dream ended following a 2-0 play-off defeat to Italy, O'Neill hinted that he would remain in charge of the national team, stating that he would "revert back to the status quo" and fulfil his contract, which is due to run until 2028.

However, O'Neill said last week that it would be impossible for him to continue splitting his time between Northern Ireland and Blackburn long-term, admitting that he had "maybe underestimated" the demands the job-sharing role would involve.

After Rovers proposed a contract extension, O'Neill will now weigh up whether to sign a new deal with Rovers and walk away from his international post, but journalist Alan Nixon claims that he will take a week after the end of the season before making a decision.

Finances have long been a controversial issue at Ewood Park, with former manager Jon Dahl Tomasson revealing that he left the club due to what he described as "brutal" budget cuts, and O'Neill is said to be keen to know what budget he will be working with this summer before putting pen to paper on a new deal.

However, that is not the only reason for the delay, with O'Neill also believed to be waiting to see if there are other options out there for him after his impressive Blackburn stint.

Should O'Neill reach an agreement with Rovers over a new contract, the Lancashire outfit would reportedly have to pay a compensation fee of around £250,000 to Northern Ireland for his services, but they now face a nervous wait to discover whether he is willing to accept the job.

Blackburn Rovers must do everything possible to strike fresh Michael O'Neill deal

Given the frustrations that previous Blackburn managers have experienced with the club's board, it is understandable that O'Neill wants to know what level of finances he would have to work with, particularly as he may receive attractive proposals from elsewhere after his Ewood Park rescue mission.

Having picked up 20 points from O'Neill's 14 games in charge, Rovers are ninth in the Championship form table since the Northern Irishman's arrival, which underlines why the club must commit to providing him with a suitable budget to convince him to remain in charge.

Some may question whether O'Neill is the right man to take Blackburn forward, given that he was unable to guide Stoke City any higher than mid-table in his previous club role, but none of his successors at the bet365 Stadium have fared any better over the past four years, and he has certainly done enough to earn a long-term opportunity.