Blackburn post ‘not for me’ insists linked Harry Redknapp

Published on 31/10/2012 02:33

Harry Redknapp has dismissed reports linking him with the vacant post at Blackburn, who have been without a manager since Steve Kean resigned a month ago.

Speculation suggesting Redknapp could be the next man in Ewood Park hotseat began to gather pace at the end of last week and local media reports this morning suggested the he was set for talks with the Rovers hierarchy. But the 65-year-old, who has been out of work since parting company with Tottenham this summer, is not interested in managing the npower Championship outfit.

“When we saw the speculation, I asked where it was all coming from, it’s not for me,” he told Sky Sports News. “They’ve got a good squad, a good support but it’s not for me. Blackburn is a good club with great traditions going back many years, with Kenny [Dalglish] going there and winning the championship, they have a real tradition. It’s not something that would be for me.” He added: 
“According to a couple of the papers I was in Blackburn this morning. I wasn’t in Blackburn. People will always put two and two together and come up with what they want to come up with.”

Former Norway international Henning Berg is the current bookmakers’ favourite for the Blackburn job, while Argentine icon Diego Maradona was linked overnight. Approaches for Berg’s fellow ex-Rovers Tim Sherwood and Billy McKinlay have been rejected by Tottenham and Fulham where the pair hold respective coaching roles.

A Blackburn spokesman declined to comment on the managerial situation and refused to be drawn on claims made by global advisor Shebby Singh that Kean’s successor would be in place by the middle of this week. Following six games under the guidance of caretaker manager Eric Black, Rovers are fifth in the Championship as they seek an instant return to the Barclays Premier League.

Meanwhile, Burnley have 
appointed Sean Dyche as their new manager. Dyche fills a 
vacancy created when Eddie Howe left the npower Championship club earlier this month to return to Bournemouth due to family reasons.

The 41-year-old has penned a two-and-a-half year contract on his first appointment since being sacked as Watford manager this summer, following 
the Pozzo family’s takeover at Vicarage Road. Dyche led 
Watford to their highest Championship finish for four years in his first managerial appointment last term.