Premier League / Nik Wardle / 11 June 2008 / 1 Comments

The next Blackburn manager market may be headed by the former England captain but,says Nik Wardle, betting options are bolstered by some credible outsiders and unknowns.

Blackburn Job

Taking over at Blackburn will be a very difficult assignment for whoever follows Mark Hughes. The big four, as we all know, are well ahead of the rest and clubs such as Aston Villa, Man City, Newcastle, Portsmouth and Tottenham have had massive investment in the last few years and are all likely to outspend Blackburn this summer. Whoever comes in will also have the tricky task of trying to persuade David Bentley and Santa Cruz to stay. There's a real chance that if the Rovers board don't get this appointment right, they could plummet.

The Contenders

Alan Shearer [2.88] - The romantic choice
Given the success Shearer had at the club as a player, this is an obvious link given his desire to manage one day. It's been rumoured the board are keen to discuss the post with him so it's no wonder he's the favourite. Shearer would be a gamble given that he's not managed before but this could be compensated by his standing - so much of managerial success is down to having the respect of your players and Shearer is likely to get this instantly. He could also bring in an experienced number two, someone of the ilk of the late Ray Harford who was an unsung hero of their title success in 1995. My big question marks against Shearer are his communication skills and tactical know how - he has a tendency to state the obvious on Match of the Day.

Sam Allardyce [4.9] - The steady yet unspectacular choice
Big Sam will be itching to get back into the Premier League to prove Newcastle wrong. Gone are the days of Jack Walker's millions, so Blackburn are now a similar size to Bolton, where Allardyce had so much relative success. Given the healthy relationship Mark Hughes had with the players and the cash pots of many other Premier League clubs, there's a danger that Blackburn could slide and Allardyce is a man used to tackling crisis situations, given that he had many relegation battles with Bolton.

Paul Ince [8.6] - The apprentice
As the cliche goes, Ince has cut his managerial teeth in the lower leagues, first with Macclesfield then with the MK Dons. He has a double success on his managerial CV already by winning League Two last season and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy; and has the stature, like Shearer, of a former England captain. He's wanted by Leicester to fill their managerial vacancy and if Ince decides to leave the MK Dons, the Walkers Stadium may be a safer bet for his long-term career. Leicester are likely to outspend all their League One rivals and another promotion would look good on his CV.

Roberto Martinez [12.0] - The unknown
Martinez has done a great job at Swansea and, like Ince, has a lower league success on his CV. It's rare for a Premier League club to appoint a manager from the lower leagues these days, especially one who wasn't a big name player, so I'd be surprised if the Spaniard was appointed. Especially as he has only been a manager since February 2007.

Steve McClaren [13.5] - The desperado
One former Man United number two, Brian Kidd, has already flopped at Blackburn and I'd be surprised if the board plumped for McClaren. Then again, I was surprised the FA selected him. McClaren did get Middlesbrough to a UEFA Cup final but got thrashed in their one and only game against a decent side. Much of his time at The Riverside was largely uninspiring and surely only a superlative PowerPoint presentation could see him secure this post.

Dick Advocaat [22.0] - The experienced-hand
There's a sniff of a chance that if Blackburn offered him enough money he may take up the post. Advocaat did, after all, manage in Scotland for a few years. He has an excellent track record and has produced quite a side at Zenit St Petersburg. The likely truth is, though, that the chance to manage in the Champions League is more exciting than coaching a mid-table Premier League side.

Steve Clarke - The rank outsider
Clarke has sated his ambition to step up from a number two to a manager and given the major role he's had in Chelsea's success, I'm surprised he's not even been given a price. Even when Mourinho was at Chelsea, Clarke took a lot of the training and the no-nonsense reputation he had as a player remains with him as a coach.

If Shearer is to be offered the Blackburn job, he has a very big decision ahead of him. On one hand, Blackburn and Newcastle are likely to be the only Premier League teams to offer him a job prior to him having any managerial experience but on the other, it will be very difficult for him (or anyone) to better what Hughes has done. If Blackburn were to regress under Shearer, it would damage his reputation and may end his chances of ever getting the Newcastle or England job. I also think Ince may avoid the post for the same reason. Allardyce and McClaren will definitely want the job but with forty applicants, it may well go to a surprise candidate.

Whilst the speculation is that Shearer will be the man, I think now is a good time to bet elsewhere. It really is open as to who though.

Tags: Allardyce, Blackburn, Clarke, Ince, Martinez, McLaren, Shearer