BLACKBURN Rovers have whittled down their search for a new manager to three targets – admitting they need to make an appointment ASAP.

Rovers director Mike Cheston and secretary Ian Silvester, in conjunction with owners Venky’s, have spent the past fortnight compiling a list of potential replacements for Paul Lambert.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And that list is currently down to a trio of names in the frame to succeed Lambert who announced his departure two weeks ago.

Rovers would like the new man to work alongside assistant manager Alan Irvine and first-team coach Rob Kelly whose opinions have been sought.

And Cheston said: “We’ve received a number of applications, some expected, some unexpected, and definitely some very good ones, and also we’ve got some idea of others who haven’t necessarily applied, at this stage, but we know who are available and will be interested.

“So we’ve whittled it down a lot from the original list and we have had excellent meetings with both Alan Irvine and Rob Kelly, who have given us the benefit of their experience and knowledge of some of the names that were on the list, and others that weren’t necessarily on the list.

“You can’t ignore experience like that on your doorstep, especially when you know that they’ve got the interests of Blackburn Rovers at heart.

“We’ve moved on from the long list to the shortlist. I wouldn’t say it’s final, as anything can happen at any stage with these things, but yes, we’ve definitely whittled it down to a few, and good progress has been made in the last week or so.

“We’ve used the little bit of time we’ve had, and it’s important to invest a little bit of time into this, rather than just going straight in, and it’s definitely proved worthwhile so far.

“But we’re also conscious we need to get the new manager in place as soon as possible as we need to address player contracts and the recruitment of players in time for pre-season.

“So, while we’ve used a little of bit of time, we’re also conscious we have to act quickly.”

Former Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom Irvine has expressed no interest in taking over the Ewood Park hotseat.

But, along with Kelly, he has played a role in the hunt for Lambert’s successor.

Cheston, who confirmed interviews will take place ‘as soon as possible’, added: “The ideal scenario is that we want Alan and Rob to stay.

“We’ve made it very clear that we want them to stay, and even more so with the way they have helped us out, but they also know that if a manager comes along and wants to bring his own team in, it may be that they’ll have to move on. They know football more than anybody.

“But the ideal situation is the new manager will be happy to work with Alan and Rob and vice versa.”

Irvine, who like Kelly is in his second spell at Rovers, said: “I’m waiting to see whether the new manager who comes in wants me to stay or not.

“The club have said they want me to stay but of course I understand the way things work and whoever they appoint as a new manager may not want me and I fully understand that.

“I’m a little bit in limbo at the moment.”