DAVID Jones says he would be more than happy for Gary Bowyer to become Blackburn Rovers’ permanent manager as the caretaker boss bids to confirm the club’s survival in the Championship tomorrow.

Bowyer has guided Rovers to three wins in their last four games to move them five points clear of the relegation zone with just two games to play.

Victory against Crystal Palace in their final home match of the season tomorrow would guarantee that Rovers are mathematically safe and Jones believes much of the credit must got to Bowyer.

The 41-year-old has taken 10 points from seven games after being put in temporary charge until the end of the season following the shock sacking of Michael Appleton.

Bowyer also won three out of four in a previous spell as caretaker at the turn of the year.

Asked if the squad would be in favour of their current boss being given the job full time, Jones said: “I think so. I can only speak for myself but he’s been great since I’ve been here.

“When the last manager left it was a mixture of emotions for us after coming back from a late equaliser against Burnley and then just the shock news.

“Michael Appleton brought me in and the staff had a really professional approach to training and the club, so it was a shock.

“But he (Bowyer) has managed to settle it down, get us playing well and organised.

“He’s calmed the players down, he’s got that sense of calmness that spreads out throughout the squad, he makes us relaxed and has taken the pressure off us.

“He’s done a great job and we’ve responded to him coming in.

“But nobody is really thinking about the future at the moment, we’re just thinking about the next two games.”

The backing for Bowyer was echoed by Danny Murphy, who has only been selected once since Bowyer took charge for the second time but was vocal in his support for the club’s development coach during his first spell at the helm.

“The way Gary and Terry McPhillips have done, I would personally leave them in charge,” Murphy said.

“They know the club, they care about the club and you can’t argue what you’ve done in the 10 or 11 games they’ve been in charge.

“They’ve they’ve come in twice and steadied the ship. In the 10 or 11 games they’ve been in charge I think they’ve won six, which is more like play-off form.”

Jones is currently on loan from Wigan until the end of the season and says he has heard no more about where his future may lie.

He does not yet know if he will be offered a new deal by the Latics when his current one expires in the summer, and is not ruling out a permanent switch to Rovers.

“I think there will have to be a conversation with Wigan at some point to see what’s happening,” the 28-year-old said.

“Blackburn would definitely be an option I’d be delighted to have. Who knows what will happen, there’s a lot of ifs and buts, but I love the club and it would be a good move for me.

“There hasn’t been any talks about it, I personally wouldn’t have wanted it anyway because I’ve just wanted to concentrate on keeping Blackburn in the league.”