The struggling Lancashire side are on the lookout for yet another new manager
Valérien Ismaël has left Rovers after their 1-0 home loss to in-form Hull City(Image: Alex Dodd/Shutterstock)
Blackburn Rovers have parted company with manager Valérien Ismaël after Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Hull City left them mired in the Championship relegation zone.
Lewis Koumas’ terrific 81st-minute winner proved decisive for City, who moved up to third in the table with a fourth win on the spin, and left Rovers in real trouble amid ongoing fan protests against the ongoing ownership of Venky’s.
For Rovers, it was an eighth game without a win. The stricken Ewood Park club have just one win in their last 14 games and were also dumped out of the FA Cup by the Tigers early last month.
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Former Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray, Slaven Bilic and ex-Huddersfield Town chief David Wagner are in the early running to replace the Frenchman, who himself took over less than 12 months ago when John Eustace left for Derby County.
“Valérien Ismaël has today left his position as Blackburn Rovers’ Head Coach by mutual consent,” Rovers said in a statement on Monday afternoon.
“Ismaël joined the club in February 2025, however it has been mutually agreed that he will step away from his role with immediate effect, along with Assistant Head Coach Dean Whitehead.
“Blackburn Rovers would like to thank Valérien and Dean for their efforts during their time at the club and wish them both the very best for the future.
“The club will now begin the process of appointing a new Head Coach and will make no further comment until an appointment is confirmed.”
Ismaël is the second second-tier manager to leave in the past 24 hours, following on from Javi Gracia, who quit Watford on Sunday ahead of their MKM Stadium showdown with the Tigers on Tuesday night.
Those two follow Ryan Mason, Marti Cifuentes and Gary Rowett, all of whom have left West Brom, Leicester City and Oxford United in recent weeks.
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