Blackburn Rovers have suggested that head coach John Eustace is likely to move to Derby County over the coming days.
Prior to Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers, reports emerged that Eustace had been identified by Derby as their number one candidate to replace Paul Warne.
With Eustace possessing a release clause in his contract, Blackburn are essentially powerless to prevent the 45-year-old from leaving Ewood Park if that figure is met.
When speaking to the media after Rovers lost 2-0 to Wolves, Eustace indicated that he would hold discussions with Blackburn's hierarchy, insisting that he feels that he has been backed at the club.
However, on Monday evening, the Championship club released a statement to express their disappointment that Eustace wanted to speak to their Derby counterparts.
📰 Club Statement: John Eustace#Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/m2eaPmLCZn
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 10, 2025
Derby on brink of Eustace appointment?
While nothing has been confirmed, Blackburn's public statement has effectively conceded that their relationship with Eustace has broken down.
Eustace was allowed to make five additions during the winter transfer window in a bid to keep Rovers in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
Rovers currently sit in sixth place in the Championship table, despite winning just two of their last 11 matches in the second tier.
Derby, meanwhile, are in 22nd position having failed to prevail from any of their last nine fixtures in all competitions.
Despite the difference in scenarios facing the two clubs, there is the pull of Eustace having represented Derby during his playing days.
Furthermore, Eustace has spent a significant portion of his playing and managerial career based in the middle of England, counting Coventry City, Stoke City, Kidderminster Harriers and Birmingham City among his previous employers.
Darren Plant
