John Eustace replaces Tomasson at Blackburn four months after brutal axe for Rooney – and faces Birmingham first up
JOHN EUSTACE has been appointed Blackburn’s new manager following the sacking of Jon Dahl Tomasson.
And his first game in charge will be against former club Birmingham on Tuesday.
Blackburn take on Stoke on Saturday but Eustace will watch the match from the stands.
The 44-year-old was controversially shown the door at St Andrew’s to make way for former England ace Wayne Rooney.
That proved to be a disastrous decision as the Blues plummeted down the table under the former Derby boss.
However he will be going back to the Midlands on Tuesday night if his appointment as Rovers boss is confirmed.
Ironically his opponent would be a former Ewood Park chief in Tony Mowbray.
Tomasson left Blackburn by mutual consent after falling out with the club over its transfer policy claiming that a lack of funding last summer landed a “grenade” in his pre-season planning.
He spent the previous 24 hours before his departure negotiating a pay – off, understood to be around £300,000, for walking away with 18 months left of his contract.
Rovers sold prized asset Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace and tried to bring in US striker Duncan McGuire.
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
They pulled the plug on a permanent move but then thought they had signed him on loan – only for it to emerge they had not submitted the correct paperwork.
Tomasson did not complete a pre-match press conference ahead of Blackburn’s 2-1 home defeat to QPR at the weekend.
Speaking after the game, the honest former AC Milan star said: “It’s very good to see you, I wasn’t allowed to talk to the press yesterday.
“It’s a club decision, I have no comment on it. I think you know me, I’m happy to speak to you, I’m an honest person.
“It’s not good when you can’t speak to the fans, they are the heart and soul of the game. We should always think about that. It was a club decision and I have no comment on it.
“We should always be open with everything, never leave the fans in the dark. It was a club decision, I was told I wasn’t allowed to speak with the press. I have no further comment to that.
“It was a club decision, I can’t comment on the reason why. You probably already know what could be the reason.
“It is difficult not to get a better answer. The club said yesterday I couldn’t speak with the media. I am sitting here and answering the question.
“I have given you the reason, I have no more comment to that. It was a club decision. We should tell the fans everything, they are the soul of the football club.”