Ex-Blackburn Rovers defender Stephen Warnock has backed his former team to have a more successful campaign this season after escaping relegation on the final day of last term.
Rovers go into the 2024-25 campaign having needed a win at champions Leicester City to secure their survival in a tumultuous previous season which saw them change manager late on in an ultimately successful attempt to remain in the division.
The East Lancashire outfit started the season under former Denmark international Jon Dahl Tomasson, but the 47-year-old left the club by mutual consent in February with the club 18th in the league. He was replaced by ex-Birmingham City manager John Eustace who steered the club to safety, and former England left-back Warnock thinks the new boss’s managerial style will help them going forwards.
Speaking exclusively to The Real EFL through BetVictor, he said, “I think they’ve brought in a more pragmatic manager in John Eustace, a bit more defence minded, probably likes to stay in games and then maybe win a game by the odd goal or the narrowest of margins. I think, given the opportunity to go and strengthen the team how he wants to, to bring in players, I do see them being a better team. I think there’s more to come from them under him as a team.”
However, Warnock believes any improvement in Blackburn’s fortunes is dependent on the club being run successfully. Controversial owners Venky’s have come in for criticism at various points since they took over the club in 2010. Former manager Tomasson left the club following a difficult relationship with the board and money is tight at Ewood Park, which is set to impact their business this summer. Warnock says, though, that his former side can challenge if they get off-the-pitch matters in order.
“The ownership has got its issues behind the scenes, whether there’s money there to be spent. But they need to make sure that they’re not flirting with relegation again. That would be disastrous for them, to go down into League One.”
Writer’s View
This season is a pretty important one for Rovers; they’ll want to get back on a more positive footing but it won’t be an easy job to turn things around. Eustace is the man to do that though, having worked miracles at Birmingham City before his shock sacking. If he can do the same in Lancashire, all while keeping the likes of last season’s top scorer Sammie Szmodics, then Blackburn will be able to start looking up the table rather than over their shoulders.