John Eustace has left Blackburn Rovers to become manager of Derby County. The former Birmingham City boss has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Pride Park. Eustace's departure comes as Blackburn are in the play-off places, while Derby are struggling near the bottom of the Championship table.
John Eustace has departed his position as head coach of Championship promotion contenders Blackburn Rovers to take the helm at relegation-struggling Derby County . This move sees Eustace sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Rams. His first match in charge of the Pride Park club, where he enjoyed two stints as a player, will be the Friday trip to Queens Park Rangers.
\While Eustace met with Derby officials on Tuesday, he was not present at Pride Park that day as the Rams drew with Oxford United. Derby owner David Clowes expressed his excitement in welcoming Eustace back to Pride Park, stating, 'I've followed his managerial career with interest, and it's clear he has the qualities we need to maintain our progress.' Eustace, who previously managed Birmingham City in the second tier, leaves Ewood Park with Blackburn in a strong playoff position with 14 matches remaining. Despite the clubs' contrasting situations, sources indicate that Eustace believes Derby presents a more appealing long-term project. Additionally, with his family residing in the Midlands, the geographical aspect has played a significant role in his decision. \Rovers acknowledged their disappointment with Eustace's departure, particularly at this crucial juncture of the season. However, they expressed understanding for the family reasons behind his move and the pull of his former club. They stated, 'The club had hoped that John would see out the season and continue the fantastic work he has done, particularly after strengthening the squad in January and guiding us into a strong position in the league.' Despite the change in leadership, Rovers remain optimistic about their future prospects, stating, 'Football is always evolving, and while we part ways with John Eustace, this also presents an exciting opportunity for the new head coach to build on our current positive position.' Eustace's exit from Blackburn marks the fifth managerial change within the Championship this season. This move follows a day after the Lancashire side secured their third victory in 12 league games. Although they have only collected 11 points from 36 possible since late December, Rovers have managed to hold their place among the top contenders. Notably, this is the second consecutive season where Eustace has left a club while they were positioned within the Championship's playoff places. While this decision is his own, he experienced a sudden departure from Birmingham in October 2023 when new owners sought Wayne Rooney as manager. This decision triggered a decline in Birmingham's performance, culminating in their relegation to League One at the end of the season. \Blackburn had faced relegation concerns when Eustace took charge at Ewood Park. After securing their top-flight status, he has guided them to become prominent contenders for promotion this year. Derby's 10-match winless streak across all competitions, including seven consecutive defeats in the league, has placed them precariously close to the relegation zone. Eustace had two successful stints as a player for Derby, first helping them avoid relegation from the second tier during the 2008-09 season while on loan from Watford. He then joined the club permanently in 2013 and concluded his playing career there. During his second spell, he played a crucial role in their near-miss of reaching the Premier League, only to be defeated in the Championship play-off final by QPR in 2014
CHAMPIONSHIP DERBY COUNTY BLACKBURN ROVERS JOHN EUSTACE FOOTBALL MANAGER TRANSFER NEWS
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