Blackburn thinking big in search for new manager with Benitez shortlisted
A power struggle at Blackburn Rovers led to Michael Appleton’s sacking, with Shebby Singh, the Championship club’s global advisor, keen to appoint a big name replacement, the Daily Mirror has reported. Interim Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez is said to be on Singh’s shortlist.
Appleton was sacked after 67 days and 15 games in charge at Ewood Park, and found out the decision after Singh came to the training ground for the first time in months and handed a letter to a receptionist, who passed it on to Appleton. Singh was not consulted when Appleton was appointed to replace Henning Berg, moving from Blackpool after a short time with the Seasiders.
Having dispensed with the services of Appleton and his backroom team, however, Singh is in the market for a marquee manager and is said to be willing to authorise wages of £50,000 per week for the right boss.
Tim Sherwood, who lifted the Premier League title in 1995 as Blackburn captain, is a long-term target, but Rovers could instead go for Steve McClaren or Sven Goran-Eriksson. Eriksson nearly moved to Ewood in the 1990s before accepting a post at Sampdoria instead.
The Mirror claims however that Singh’s preferred candidate is Benitez, who could become a free agent this summer once his tenure at Stamford Bridge ends. Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has also been discussed, as well as former Southampton chief Nigel Adkins, who took the Saints to the Premier League last season.
Blackburn are currently four places and four points above the Championship relegation zone.
Read more on Appleton’s sacking by Blackburn here.
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