It might sound dramatic to some, but there’s a growing feeling that Blackburn Rovers could be in real trouble next season.
After another underwhelming campaign filled with poor results, off-pitch missteps and internal disarray, the warning signs are flashing. Supporters will always hope for the best—but when you piece together the club’s recent trajectory, it paints a worrying picture of a side that could be sleepwalking into a relegation scrap.
The truth is, Blackburn aren’t just having a rough patch. This is a club struggling for stability in almost every department—from recruitment to results, from boardroom decisions to touchline performances. Unless there’s a significant summer reset, the Championship—or worse—could prove far too unforgiving in 2025.
Recent Struggles Show No Signs of Ending
Since the departure of John Eustace, Blackburn have been in freefall. Five games without a win in a league as competitive as the Championship isn’t just a dip—it’s a crisis. The timing couldn’t be worse either, with other clubs around them in the table picking up points and building momentum heading into the new season.
It’s not just the results that should concern fans, but the performances. There’s a distinct lack of identity on the pitch, and too often, Rovers look second best in every department. Games are being lost not because the opposition is outstanding, but because Blackburn simply aren’t offering enough. The body language says it all—this is a team lacking belief.
Inconsistent Form, Especially Away from Home
One of the most troubling aspects of Rovers’ season has been their inconsistency—particularly on the road. Trips to grounds like Fratton Park have ended in defeat, and there’s a noticeable pattern of Blackburn struggling against newly promoted sides. These aren’t the top-tier giants—they’re the kind of fixtures that, if you’re serious about mid-table safety or a play-off push, you simply have to navigate successfully.
That unpredictability, that inability to string together a convincing run of form, is what often drags teams into the relegation picture. It’s no good pulling off the odd impressive win if you follow it up with three lifeless defeats. And right now, that sums up Blackburn’s rhythm—or lack thereof.
Recruitment Failures Keep Hurting the Squad
Perhaps the most alarming long-term issue facing Blackburn is their continuing failure in player recruitment and retention. Time and again, key players have walked away for nothing—Joe Rothwell, Darragh Lenihan, Amari’i Bell—without adequate replacements lined up. That’s not just poor planning; it’s strategic negligence.
To make matters worse, administrative errors have hampered incoming transfers, leaving the squad short in vital areas. You can’t build a solid team when you’re constantly patching holes left by poorly handled exits or bungled paperwork. These are not problems that fix themselves—and if they persist into the summer, fans have every right to expect another season of struggle.
Managerial Turmoil Brings No Stability
The sacking of John Eustace came at a puzzling time—and his replacement, Valerien Ismael, has yet to convince. While it’s early in his tenure, there’s been no discernible bounce in form or morale. The tactical shifts haven’t worked, and the same issues persist under new leadership.
Ismael has experience, yes, but he also has a recent track record of short spells and mixed results. If he fails to steady the ship early next season, how long will he be given? Constant managerial turnover does nothing but breed instability, and Blackburn have had far too much of that in recent years. There’s a strong argument that the board need to back someone long-term—but whether Ismael is that man remains to be seen.
Championship Survival Is No Guarantee
Perhaps the most sobering thought for Rovers fans is this: there are no guarantees in the Championship. Big clubs go down every year—clubs with better squads, bigger budgets, and seemingly more direction than Blackburn currently have. It only takes a poor start, a few injuries, and the rot can set in quickly.
Unless there’s a serious shift in direction—improved recruitment, clearer tactical identity, and real leadership on and off the pitch—next season could be one of firefighting, not forward progress. Relegation might not be inevitable, but it’s far from unthinkable.
Conclusion
For a club with Blackburn’s history, this shouldn’t be the conversation. But football moves fast, and sentiment doesn’t win you points. If things don’t change—and soon—Rovers could find themselves battling to avoid League One rather than fighting for promotion.
