ALAN Irvine has left Blackburn Rovers by mutual consent, the club has announced.

The assistant manager, 57, was brought in by former boss Paul Lambert in November and stayed after his fellow Scot departed at the end of last season to work with Owen Coyle.

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But the former Rovers youth team coach, who played 58 games for the club as well as turning out for Everton and Crystal Palace, is now leaving to ‘further his career away from Ewood Park’.

A statement from Rovers said: "We wish Alan well, as he is a great football man and a lovely person.”

The club said they would move swiftly to appoint a successor to work alongside Coyle and first team coach Rob Kelly.

Coyle’s former No 2 at Burnley, Bolton, Wigan and Houston Dynamo, Sandy Stewart, is an early favourite for the role.