Blackburn Rovers are looking for a new permanent manager after interim boss Michael O’Neill declared last week that he will not be returning to the club next season.

The 56-year-old took over as Rovers manager in February after Valerien Ismael was fired, and he also manages the Northern Irish national team.

During his stay at Ewood Park, O’Neill won five, drew five, and lost five of the Blue and Whites’ 15 matches, guaranteeing their Championship survival with a 20th place result.

However, despite his good stint with Blackburn, it was confirmed last week that O’Neill will not sign a long-term contract with the Lancashire club. Instead, he will return to focusing on his responsibilities in Northern Ireland.

This has left Blackburn in search of a new manager to fill the vacuum left by O’Neill’s departure, with a recent report claiming they are already considering several candidates ahead of the next season.

Blackburn Rovers face battle to appoint Slaven Bilic.

Slaven Bilic is one manager that Blackburn is keeping an eye on. The former West Brom and West Ham manager has been out of work since his dismissal from Saudi club Al-Fateh in August 2024.

Since then, the Croatian has been linked with a return to the dugout, with Blackburn pursuing his services to replace Ismael, an opportunity he turned down at the time.

However, Rovers have apparently revived their interest in Bilic now that they know O’Neill will not be back next season, but they will have to compete for his services, according to a new report from Alan Nixon via his Patreon site.

According to Nixon, Amedspor is also interested in hiring the former Baggies manager as they seek to establish themselves as a major player in Turkish football after being promoted to the top division for the first time this season.

Both Amedspor and Blackburn are apparently in contact with the 57-year-old as they compete to appoint him, with the latter set to discuss the position and budget in the near future.

Despite this, Nixon believes that the Turkish side’s entry into the race complicates Blackburn’s plan because they may offer far more money, while the English side will try to win him over with job stability.

Russell Martin is also on Blackburn Rovers’ radar as they compete for the Championship.

Another manager on the Lancashire club’s radar, according to Nixon, is former Rangers and Southampton manager Russell Martin, who has been unemployed since being fired from the Glasgow club in October of last year.

Despite a disappointing spell at Ibrox, Martin is apparently still in great demand this summer, with Blackburn completing background checks on the 40-year-old and other prospects.

However, Rovers will face stiff competition to select Martin as their new manager, with Championship rivals Watford and two unnamed European clubs apparently vying for his services.

According to Nixon, the former Rangers manager has previously spoken with League One club Leicester City and is scheduled to meet with two unnamed European clubs in the coming days, implying that Blackburn will face a difficult task if they choose to hire him – even though Bilic is currently their top choice.