A week on from the departure of Tony Mowbray, Rovers are finalising a shortlist of managers to be his replacement.

The club received an influx of applications following last week’s confirmation that Mowbray would be leaving after five years at Ewood Park with his contract at an end.

That list of applicants has been whittled down, with Rovers now engaging with representatives of those shortlisted managers for initial talks with a view to arranging face-to-face meetings.

Interviews are yet to take place, but Rovers are moving towards that stage of the process in the quest to find a successor to Mowbray.

Rovers are looking for a head coach to work under a sporting director, the search for which is running parallel to that of a Mowbray replacement.

No timeframe has been put on Rovers’ search for a new manager, with the focus on a thorough recruitment process.

Speculation has been rife about the prospect of Carlos Carvalhal taking on the job since his decision to leave SC Braga at the end of his contract.

He remains the favourite with bookmakers, but his availability has also interested Brazilian side Flamengo, while a possible return to the United Arab Emirates for the Portuguese coach has also been mooted.

Despite no mention of them in the club statement last week, Rovers’ backroom staff remain in situ as the search for a new manager remains ongoing, with clarity on their positions set to be provided in due course.

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