BLACKBURN Rovers legend Simon Garner is not surprised the club has swung the axe on Owen Coyle and insists it's crucial they get the right replacement to keep them in the Championship.

News of the manager's departure broke on Tuesday afternoon, with a Rovers spokesman stating their search for a successor had begun immediately.

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Coyle's backroom staff – assistant Sandy Stewart, first team coach John Henry and goalkeeping coach Phil Hughes – have also left the club.

Garner, who scored a record 194 goals for Rovers between 1978 and 1992, told the Lancashire Telegraph the news did not come as a great shock.

He said; "It was always going to be a tough job and unfortunately for Owen the results have not gone well.

"If you're in the bottom three, something is likely to happen.

"It's always sad to see a manager get the sack, but football is a results business and he has not won enough games.

"I think the club had to do something."

He added: "You do feel sorry for Owen, but the time was right to act.

"There are 15 games left and it just needs a fresh presence in there.

"The players that Rovers have got are good enough to keep them in the division but, as I've said many times over recent weeks, they need to stop conceding goals.

"That means they need someone in there who can get them organised and start chalking up some clean sheets."

When asked who he thought would succeed Coyle, Garner said: "It's very hard to name names of a possible successor, but I'm sure plenty of people will want the job.

"It's vital that the owners get the right person in, and that has got to be someone who knows the division.

"David Dunn could be a good shout – he knows the club inside out and is working there at the moment.

"The only problem might be his lack of experience at that level."