Blackburn Rovers

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire's Sport Editor

Image source, Getty Images

An interview with Tony Mowbray at the back of Blackburn Rovers' training ground at Brockhall was something I had pretty much consigned to the past but looked back on with fond memories - until this week.

As soon as our conversation started, it felt as though four years had disappeared in an instant. There we were again, swapping pleasantries, talking football and slipping effortlessly back into familiar territory. Some people can leave the game; Mowbray, quite clearly, never really did.

He is steeped in football. Obsessed by it, shaped by it, comforted by it. To say he lives and breathes the sport barely scratches the surface. And from the moment he began speaking, there was a spark back in his eyes - the unmistakable look of a man who feels at home again.

The four years since he left Ewood Park have seen Mowbray hold down three Championship jobs.

Away from football, he faced the sort of battle that changes perspectives and tests every ounce of resilience. A cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgeries would have been enough for many to step away permanently.

So when I asked him, at 62, whether retirement had ever felt like the obvious path, the answer arrived before the words did. The chuckle told the story. Football still has its grip on him and probably always will.

Of course, there is life away from the touchline. He speaks warmly about his wife, his three sons and the dog that has joined him for countless early-morning walks as his strength has returned. But even through that gratitude and perspective, there was clearly something missing.

The dressing room. The daily rhythm. The buzz of the training ground.

Mowbray has always been at his best around players - teaching, encouraging, nudging confidence back into those who have lost it. Few managers wear the role of mentor more naturally. He genuinely loves helping footballers improve, whether they are academy prospects or seasoned professionals needing an arm around the shoulder.

And he returns to a club that remains emotionally divided. Blackburn's tensions between supporters and boardroom are well documented, but they are hardly unique in the modern game. The difference with Mowbray is that he understands the landscape already. He knows some of the personalities, the politics and the pressures. There will be no honeymoon surprises here.

That familiarity matters.

He will build new relationships with a CEO, a head of football operations and a head of technical development but there is comfort in returning somewhere that already feels part of his story.

In many ways, this is less a fresh start and more an unfinished chapter reopening.

Before long, one of his favourite phrases resurfaced again - "soldiers and artists". It is classic Mowbray - simple football language carrying a deeper point. The words are emblazoned across a corridor at Brockhall and, truthfully, they probably tell you everything about the challenge ahead.

Last season's Blackburn side had enough soldiers to survive. What they lacked was artistry. A total of 42 goals in 46 Championship games tells its own brutal story.

Which raises a fascinating question or two.

Can Mowbray coax more consistency and belief out of Todd Cantwell, for example? A player blessed with talent but still searching for sustained impact.

Can he once again convince elite clubs that Blackburn is the right environment for their brightest young prospects to grow? After all, this is the same manager who helped nurture the development of players such as Jan-Paul van Hecke, Harvey Elliott, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jarrad Branthwaite.

That reputation still carries weight in football circles.

The workload awaiting him will be relentless. Championship management devours energy at the best of times, never mind after everything he has been through. But there was no sense of apprehension when he spoke - only excitement, purpose and determination to make the most of another chance to do the thing he loves most.

For now, there is a short wait before he meets his players. In the meantime, he joked that he still has thousands of messages from well-wishers to reply to following his return to football.

And perhaps that warmth says something important.

Because this comeback does not simply feel like another managerial appointment. It feels like football welcoming back one of its own.

Tony Mowbray says he had other job offers before returning to Blackburn as head coach but they "didn't feel right".

But when he got the phone call from the Rovers hierarchy, it was different.

"I feel as if when the phone rang, they were looking for somebody to trust to try and put the club back in the right direction," the 62-year-old told BBC Radio Lancashire in his first press conference.

Mowbray was in charge at Ewood Park for more than five years between 2017 and 2022, guiding the club to eighth in his final season in charge before he left.

Blackburn finished 20th in the Championship in 2025-26, just five points above the drop zone - their lowest finish since they were relegated from the second tier in 2016-17.

You can watch Mowbray's first press conference in full above or listen to it on BBC Sounds.

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We asked for your thoughts after Tony Mowbray was re-appointed as Blackburn head coach, returning to Ewood Park after more than five years in charge between 2017 and 2022.

Here are a selection of your responses:

Michael F: Decent bloke, but backward step. Mr "safe hands" (i.e. cheap option for Venkys) but uninspiring.

Mark H: Tony Mowbray is the right choice! He needs to be given a chance as he knows the club well and he knows what is required to stabilise the team. Better having Mowbray in charge than someone who we don't know and risk losing Championship status.

Colin: Very happy, he knows the quirks of the club, so he is unlikely to walk out mid-season. He is a passionate guy who will bring stability. Welcome back Mogga.

David L: I am not happy with this appointment. We should have gone for a younger, enthusiastic manager. Dave Challinor would have been perfect. Very disappointed.

Andy J: Players love him, fans love him. Tony is a safe/secure option and just what the club needs. Maybe not the most daring of appointments. I just hope for Tony, nothing goes wrong as he is well thought of at Rovers. Backing him all the way.

Federico: No, even if I really appreciate Tony Mowbray, we need a more drastic change at the club right now. The old one returning can be read as "more of the same". That is exactly what fans are not waiting for, and, honestly, they don't deserve it. Another missed opportunity for the incompetent club owners. We (still) hope this era comes to an end soon...

Malcolm: Venkys should never have let him leave when we failed the play-offs on goal difference. Immediately I focus on the issue between fans and ownership. Tony Mowbray is a good guy, a knowledgeable person. Spend time in his company and you will realise it. He will be there at Brockhall watching the younger players, not just monitoring training drills for the first-teamers.

Michael E: I'm underwhelmed a little by Mowbray, not because he's a bad manager but because he's an unambitious one. A steady Eddie at best. Plus the fact we've had him before, just takes the sparkle off what would otherwise be a reasonable appointment.

Paul: I'm a fan of Mowbray, but I don't feel this is a step forward. The owners decided not to renew Tony's contract when it was up and we have now missed the chance to sign an up-and coming, progressive manager in Dave Challinor. I think this was a safe appointment to appease the fans. Hopefully Tony gets us competing again.

David I: Delighted Tony is back. Rovers were foolish not to keep him. Proper football man and absolute gentleman. I hope he gets some financial backing this time around.

Ronnie: Yes, very happy. Not always good to go back, but Real Madrid have just done it, so why not Rovers too... Welcome back Tony.

Tony: Backward appointment. Dave Challinor would have been my choice.

Steve: TM's a safe pair of hands and we should avoid another relegation scrap next season. But I don't see the long-term sense in this appointment. I think we need a younger, more dynamic boss who will blood the academy youngsters early enough (alongside some seasoned Championship experience to support them). Last time around, many fans wanted to see young Adam Wharton debuting in the first team but it wasn't until Mowbray left and Tomasson came in that he got his chance. That said, best of luck to Tony - his experience will steady the ship.

Image source, Shutterstock

Tony Mowbray has been appointed as Blackburn Rovers head coach for the upcoming Championship season.

The 62-year-old returns to Ewood Park for a second spell in charge after more than five years at the club between 2017 and 2022.

Previous interim boss Michael O'Neill decided against taking the role on a permanent basis after replacing the sacked Valerien Ismael in February.

• Blackburn fans, are you happy with Mowbray's appointment?

• If not, who would you have liked instead?

• What are your expectations for the 2026-27 campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here and we will publish some of your responses later on.

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson had an eventful first senior international start for Northern Ireland as they beat Guinea 1-0 in a friendly in Cadiz.

The 19-year-old touched in a ninth-minute cross from West Bromwich Albion's Isaac Price to score the only goal of the game, but his night turned sour 18 minutes from the end.

Atcheson was the last defender when he dragged down Guinea's Abdoul Karim Traore and was sent-off.

He made his senior debut for Northern Ireland as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Wales in March having signed an extended contract with Blackburn in April.

Northern Ireland, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, meet France in their second friendly on Monday.

"Chaotic. I don't think there were many spells during the season where you were worried about something to talk about with Rovers.

"Every time you opened your phone, there seemed to be a club statement, managerial uncertainty or changes.

"Definitely a chaotic season. One that finished on the right side of the line but so much to go over for the season.

"So little known about next season really. One season has finished but it's not really drawn a line under anything.

"It's just going to continue. The themes from last season are still going to be the same moving into next season."

That is how Rich Sharpe, a Blackburn fan and former Rovers journalist for the Lancashire Telegraph, summed up the 2025-26 campaign.

He joined BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor Andy Bayes and fellow Blackburn supporter Aqib Ishtiaq on an end of season special podcast.

Listen to the show in full on BBC Sounds.

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Blackburn Rovers have brought in Steve Curwood from Fleetwood Town as their new chief executive officer.

Curwood succeeds Steve Waggott, who has left Blackburn after seven years at the club, and he officially takes over on 1 July.

Curwood spent 18 years at Fleetwood, working in various roles across the League Two club, and served on the EFL board.

He told the club website:, external "I'm delighted to be joining Blackburn Rovers. It's a club with a proud history and a passionate fanbase and I'm excited to get started."

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Getty Images

Michael O'Neill's decision to remain with Northern Ireland and end his association with Blackburn Rovers represents a significant moment for the club as they looks ahead to next season.

While there had been a degree of expectation that O'Neill might consider a full-time return to club management, his confirmation, delivered 10 days after the end of the Championship campaign, brings clarity to a situation that had lingered since the final whistle sounded in the home defeat by Leicester.

O'Neill's tenure at Ewood Park was brief but notably stabilising. Appointed during a period of uncertainty, his primary objective was clear - secure the club's Championship status.

He achieved that aim.

A record of five wins from 15 matches does not immediately stand out, but in context it represented a tangible improvement. The rot was stopped. It reflected a side that became harder to beat, more disciplined, and better organised defensively despite a chronic lack of goals.

However, the fact that survival was only confirmed on matchday 45 underlined the scale of the challenge he inherited. Blackburn were not a side operating from a position of comfort - they were one navigating a genuine relegation fight.

O'Neill's approach was consistent with that reality. His focus remained on efficiency rather than expansion - managing games, minimising risk, and extracting enough from the massively stretched squad available to achieve the desired outcome.

O'Neill's choice not to extend his stay appears to have been shaped by a combination of professional considerations and personal circumstances.

From a footballing perspective, discussions with the club would likely have centred on areas such as recruitment strategy, budgetary constraints, and long-term planning. These are standard elements of any managerial negotiation, particularly for a coach with O'Neill's level of experience.

Equally, his existing role with Northern Ireland offers a different type of stability. He is well established within that environment and faces the prospect of leading the national team into a European Championship qualifying campaign for the 2028 tournament, which will be hosted across the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland.

For Blackburn Rovers, the timing of this decision offers both a challenge and an opportunity.

In recent seasons, managerial appointments have largely been reactive, taking place mid-season in response to results or performance. This summer represents a different scenario and one in which the club has the opportunity to plan ahead rather than respond under pressure.

Attention will now turn to identifying O'Neill's successor.

As is often the case, early speculation has included familiar names, many of whom have been linked with the role in previous months. However, recent history suggests that the eventual appointment may not necessarily emerge from the most obvious candidates.

The key requirement appears to be a manager capable of operating within the realities of the Championship, a division defined by competitiveness, physical demands, and for those without parachute payments, tight margins, while also contributing to a more stable, longer-term framework.

O'Neill's contribution ultimately centred on stability. He inherited a challenging situation and achieved the immediate objective.

The next phase, however, is different.

With a summer window ahead and time to plan, the club are positioned to make a more measured and strategic choice than has been possible in recent seasons.

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert has been named the Championship's manager of the month for April, his third successive award.

Saints went unbeaten in the Championship last month, taking 14 points from a six-game unbeaten run as well as reaching an FA Cup semi-final where they just lost out to Manchester City.

Southampton finished fourth in the table to secure a play-off place and will meet Middlesbrough in the semi-finals with the first leg on Teesside on Saturday, 9 May (12:30 BST).

"It's a real honour to receive this award again, but it's one that belongs to everyone at the football club," Eckert said.

"The players and staff have been outstanding, and our supporters continue to give us incredible backing every week.

"To win it three times in a row is something we can be proud of, but our focus remains fully on the games ahead.

"We've built a strong mentality as a group, and we have to keep pushing to finish the season as strongly as possible."

Coventry City's Frank Lampard, John Mousinho of Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers boss Michael O'Neill were also nominated for April's award.

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Southampton's Tonda Eckert, Frank Lampard of Coventry, Portsmouth boss John Mousinho and Blackburn's Michael O'Neill have been nominated for April's Championship manager of the month award.

Eckert is hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins after taking the award for both February and March.

He led Saints to an unbeaten run of six games last month as they finished in fourth place to secure a play-off place.

Lampard took Coventry to the Championship title and a return to the Premier League after 25 years away. The Sky Blues were also unbeaten in April, taking 12 points from their six matches.

John Moushino has kept Portsmouth in the Championship for a second successive season with impressive wins over Middlesbrough and Ipswich part of a haul of 14 points from seven outings.

Pompey forward Adrian Segecic is up for the player of month award after scoring four goals as part of the club's successful battle against relegation.

Also nominated for the manager's award is Michael O'Neill of Blackburn Rovers after the Northern Ireland boss oversaw nine points from six games in April to guide the club to safety.

The winners will be announced on Friday, 8 May.

Blackburn head coach Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire: "The game was a real end-of-season affair. I was disappointed with how we played in the first half but thought in the second half we played really well.

"The changes made an impact but you have to score when you're on top, and we had numerous chances that we didn't take.

"Then we were punished with a scrappy goal - a corner, second phase we should have defended better, so it's disappointing.

"[Balazs Toth] has been top-class from the moment I came into the building. He has that ability to make that big save, not only in a game like this that didn't have anything riding on it, but also in the key games he made big, big saves. That's a sign of a top-class goalkeeper."