Former West Brom chief closes in on move to Championship rivals
Ex-Albion boss Valerien Ismael is on the verge of being appointed as new head coach at Blackburn Rovers.
The Frenchman is set to lock horns with the Baggies in the Championship play-off race with his move to Ewood Park set to be confirmed, according to reports.
Ismael, 49, is Rovers' choice to replace John Eustace, who departed for strugglers Derby County earlier this month.
It would be the coach's fourth job in English football after spells with Barnsley, Albion and most recently Watford, which ended last March. The former defender has been out of work since.
It is being reported Ismael could be appointed in time for Saturday's visit of Norwich.
Rovers are sixth, one place below the Baggies, level on 51 points but with a poorer goal difference. The Lancashire club won at The Hawthorns under caretaker management a couple of weeks ago, just prior to Eustace's exit being confirmed.
Ismael's time in charge of Albion lasted just seven months. Having been appointed after fine work at Barnsley, he and Albion started the 2021/22 campaign strongly but performances fell away and the head coach was dismissed in early February.
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