Rovers’ Championship rivals QPR are looking to hold talks with Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth about their managerial vacancy – but he isn’t understood to be on the Ewood Park shortlist.

Ainsworth has been strongly linked with Rovers amid their search for a replacement for Tony Mowbray. Despite those links, the Wycombe boss isn’t thought to be in consideration for the Rovers job.

QPR are also in the midst of a managerial search as they look to replace Mark Warburton, who like Mowbray, left at the end of his contract.

Both clubs are likely to be looking at similar candidates given the remit for the respective jobs and a focus on player development.

Rangers are looking to push forward with plans to speak with Ainsworth, a favourite with supporters after a long spell as a player at Loftus Road, after Wycombe’s defeat in the League One play-off final to Sunderland at the weekend.

Rovers however, aren’t said to be doing the same, as their search moves to the next stage, with face-to-face interviews being held after discussions with representatives of prospective managers.

Some of those discussions will happen remotely, which could lead to a second round of interviews, with a shortlist of at least five understood to have been drawn up, though Ainsworth isn’t understood to be someone the club are looking to speak to, as things stand.

The 49-year-old had previously said he was ‘flattered’ by links with former side QPR, and boyhood club Rovers, but was fully focussed on the job at hand with the Chairboys.

They beat MK Dons in the semi-finals of the play-offs, but were beaten 2-0 by Sunderland as they missed the chance to make it back into the Championship at the first attempt.

Speaking after the game, Ainsworth said he planned to stay with the club ‘as long as people are happy with me’ and added: ‘I think we've got a good future at this football club’.

Rovers haven’t commented publicly on their managerial search since announcing it was under way following the departure of Tony Mowbray on May 11, even though applications had been received at that stage.

The names of those on the shortlist is being kept under wraps, with little movement in the bookmakers odds a reflection of that.

Carlos Carvalhal remains the favourite after leaving SC Braga, but revealed to Portuguese press that his next move was unclear at present, with nothing lined up.

Owners Venky’s are looking for the eighth permanent manager of their tenure, with six of the previous seven having been out of work when being appointed, and that theme could well be set to continue.

Of the 10 shortest priced managers with bookmakers, Ainsworth is one of only three in work, along with MK Dons Liam Manning and Everton first-team coach Duncan Ferguson.

Burnley, relegated from the Premier League at the weekend, are also looking for a new manager following the departure of Sean Dyche. Having now dropped out of the top-flight, their search could go in a new direction, with Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany having previously been a frontrunner.

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