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Following Steve Kean's departure as Blackburn Rovers manager, Willie Duncan looks at the market on who might replace the Scot and is backing a club legend to return to Ewood Park

After a turbulent 22 months in the manager’s chair at Blackburn Rovers, Steve Kean finally resigned from his post at the club, claiming his position in charge had become “untenable”.

With Blackburn challenging at the top end of the Championship table, the vacancy is sure to attract plenty of interest and, subsequently, Paddy Power has compiled a market on who will replace Kean as boss at Ewood Park.

Kean was, of course, hugely unpopular with the Blackburn Rovers faithful and, as such, owners Venky’s may move to replace the 44-year-old manager with a club legend to help appease the fans.

Next Permanent Blackburn Rovers manager
Odds from Paddy Power
Tim Sherwood	11/8
Alan Shearer	3/1
Harry Redknapp	10/1
Eric Black	10/1
Mick McCarthy	10/1
Alex McLeish	14/1

One name that has been strongly linked with the post is Tim Sherwood and the former Blackburn captain, currently a coach at Tottenham Hotspur, has been installed as Paddy Power’s 11/8 (2.38) favourite to be appointed as Kean’s successor.

Sherwood, though, is believed to be enjoying life at White Hart Lane, working closely with new Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas while another stumbling block could be that Spurs are likely to seek significant compensation should Sherwood leave the club.

Should Blackburn's attempts to lure Sherwood fall through, it has been suggested that former striker Alan Shearer could be tempted by the chance to return to a club that he scored an impressive 112 goals for in 138 appearances as a player.

Shearer, who was in temporary charge of Newcastle United in 2009, is keen to get back into management, having applied for the vacancy at Cardiff City last summer and he could represent decent value at 3/1 (4.0) with Paddy Power.

Current caretaker manager Eric Black is available at 10/1 (11.0) with Paddy Power to succeed Kean on a permanent basis but Black has not held a permanent post for eight years and may be overlooked once more here.

Harry Redknapp and Mick McCarthy are both available at 10/1 (11.0) with Paddy Power to take over as next Blackburn boss. Both men have a wealth of experience but it is doubtful whether the turbulent nature of the job at Ewood Park is likely to appeal to either candidate.

With bookies' favourite Sherwood seemingly settled at Spurs, Shearer may provide the value here and the former Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and England striker should be snapped up at 3/1 (4.0) to take charge at Ewood Park.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

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