Blackburn Rovers’ search for a new manager has taken another turn after Bradford City head coach Graham Alexander moved to distance himself from the vacancy at Ewood Park.
Alexander had emerged as the bookmakers’ early favourite to succeed Valérien Ismaël, who departed earlier this week.
However, with former Oxford United boss Gary Rowett now being installed by some firms as the leading contender, Alexander has played down the speculation and stressed that his focus remains firmly on Bradford’s League One campaign.
Speaking after Bradford’s 2–1 defeat to Luton, Alexander said he had only become aware of the rumours indirectly and had seen nothing to suggest they were grounded in reality.
“My son texted me about it,” he explained. “I’m not a betting man, so I don’t see things like that.
“My only focus today was the game. My focus on the bus home is watching it back, and tomorrow it’s all about preparing the players to win next week.
“I spoke to Ryan Sparks yesterday. He asked me about it and I asked him about it — and neither of us has heard anything. So we don’t know where it’s come from.”
Alexander suggested the links were more likely a reflection of Bradford’s recent progress than any genuine approach from Blackburn. He added that individual recognition often follows collective success rather than signalling an imminent move.
“It’s just the accumulation of people winning games and doing well over a period of time,” he said.
“If a player wins an award or gets recognition, it’s because of what the group has achieved consistently. That’s what the players and staff have done this season and last.
“I don’t get distracted by things like this. If something came to the club, they’d speak to me. If something came to me, I’d speak to the club. There’s been nothing like that, so my focus has been 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, Blackburn remain in a delicate position as they look to stabilise their Championship campaign after a difficult run of results. The rapid shift in betting markets, with Rowett now prominent due to his Championship experience, highlights how quickly speculation can evolve when a high-profile job becomes available.
Alexander was clear that if anything concrete were to materialise, it would be dealt with directly — not through betting odds or online noise. Until then, his attention is fully on Bradford.
Growing concern at Blackburn
Behind the scenes, concern continues to grow around Blackburn’s managerial situation. The club has already been linked with a long list of candidates, including Dave Challinor, Mark Hughes and Robbie Savage, fuelling the perception of a search lacking clear direction.
While some of those names are respected coaches, most come from lower-league backgrounds, raising questions about whether that aligns with Blackburn’s ambitions. With tensions between ownership and supporters never far from the surface, the threat of relegation only adds to the unease.
In such an environment, it is little surprise that managers with promotion credentials — or those close to achieving them — may think twice before stepping into a volatile situation. As the process drags on, Blackburn risk remaining without leadership at a time when stability is desperately needed.
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