As Rovers sealed one managerial appointment on this day in history, another had thrown his hat in to the ring even before the current incumbent had moved on.

Manchester City were told to cough up close to £5m if they wanted to install Mark Hughes as their next manager in 2008, and to take his backroom staff as well.

City had made an official approach for Hughes, less than an hour after Sven Goran Eriksson’s much-publicised departure was finally confirmed.

Rovers chairman John Williams then reluctantly granted the Blues permission to speak to Hughes after the Welshman indicated his interest in the post, although those talks were only permitted once City agreed to meet Rovers’ sizeable compensation demands.

At the same time Sam Allardyce was plotting a return to football, and was keen on the job.

The ex-Bolton Wanderers chief had been out of work since he got fired by Newcastle United five months earlier following a stormy eight months in the St James’ Park hotseat.

However, the 53-year-old was thought to be keen on a swift return to Premier League management and was understood to have sounded Rovers out over the possibility of replacing Hughes should he move on as expected.

Meanwhile, in 2016 Rovers named Owen Coyle as Paul Lambert’s successor.

Two years earlier Rovers were relaxed over the future of Gary Bowyer as he reiterated his commitment to the club.

Rovers didn’t feel the need to offer their manager a new deal despite him being linked with the vacancy at Leeds United after guiding Rovers to eighth place in the Championship during the 2013/14 campaign.

Rovers insisted they had received no approach from Leeds and their new Italian owner Massimo Cellino and were not worried about losing their manager.

Bowyer issued a statement confirming he was “fully committed to building on the foundations put in place over the past 12 months”.

Twelve months earlier, in an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, former Rovers boss Graeme Souness admitted he regretted his decision to leave Ewood Park for Newcastle.

And the Scot felt he would still be in management had he not made the decision after four years, and more than 200 games in charge, to leave Rovers for Newcastle in September 2004.

“I definitely regret leaving.” he said. “I had four of my happiest years in management at Blackburn and I do think now it was a mistake to leave.

“If I hadn’t left Blackburn then, I would probably still be in management now.

“My time at Newcastle soured my experience of management.”

After relegation from the Premier League, Rovers were preparing to lose Stephane Henchoz, with Liverpool close to sealing a £3.5m deal by taking advantage of a clause in the defender’scontract.

Some 12 years later, in 2011, Liverpool were also planning another raid on Rovers as they were linked with a move for Phil Jones.

While Rovers were yet to receive a bid for the 19-year-old, a number of top Premier League clubs were known to be monitoring the situation closely.

In 2010, Rovers were unlikely to “gamble” the majority of their summer transfer fund on Polish ace Robert Lewandowski, despite his proposed move to Borussia Dortmund dragging.

That delay in signing the Lech Poznan striker had led to reports that Rovers had re-entered the race for the 21-year-old.

But while Lewandowski remained on Allardyce’s radar, with the club well aware of his potential, they were unlikely to pay the £4.5million fee being asked by his Polish employers.

As England prepared to host Euro ‘96, Rovers were hoping to seal a £3.5m transfer for French striker Christophe Dugarry from Bordeaux after they had agreed a deal with the Ligue 1 club.