Jon Dahl Tomasson and Vincent Kompany have been locked in an off-field battle only days after taking over at East Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers and Burnley.

The pair, appointed on Tuesday by their respective new clubs, have both been to look at the same flat, as they settle into life in Lancashire.

New Rovers head coach Tomasson arrived in the UK on Wednesday, and went flat-hunting accompanied by director of football Gregg Broughton, only to be told by the estate agent there was competition for the property, from none other than new Clarets boss Kompany.

“As soon as he arrived at Blackburn, we went flat hunting in Lancashire,” Broughton told the national press.

“The estate agent told us it was between him and Vincent, who also wants it. I suggested they flat share, but that’s not going to happen!”

It is six years since Rovers and Burnley were in the same division, the Clarets having been relegated from the Premier League last season.

The pair did meet in a league cup tie in 2017, but not since 2016 have the rivals met in a league fixture.

The high-profile managerial appointments this week have added some extra spice to the fixture, with Tomasson relishing the prospect of the derby matches, and also coming up against Kompany.

The former Denmark international said of ex-Manchester City captain Kompany: “Yeah, he was a great player.

“He worked in Belgium and I don’t know him that well as a manager. To be honest, I love these derbies, they give me energy. I will love that this season, not only me, but the fans too.

“I’m really looking forward to those games and I understand Burnley is really not the thing at Rovers.”