Chicken Magnates with Swede?

With the farce surrounding Blackburn Rovers continuing unabated this week, could Sven-Goran Eriksson be the next man tasked with appeasing the club’s Venky’s owners?

Based on events since the Indian businessman snapped up the Lancashire outfit in November 2010, we would be foolish not to expect the unexpected. First Sam Allardyce was sacked within a month, having guided Rovers to a position of mid-table security in the Premier League.

Then there was Steve Kean. Inexplicably promoted to boss without any meaningful credentials, the Scot quickly became a figure of hatred for the fans who could see where things were heading. But the Venky’s dug their heels in, swiftly offering Kean a long-term contract, before bafflingly improving the terms of the deal when the club were rock bottom in November 2011.

The poultry proprietors had seemingly targeted qualification for the Champions League and the signing of Ronaldinho. Instead they got relegation from the top flight after an 11-year stay and a live hen released onto the pitch by furious supporters in protest.

2012-13 arrived with the demand for an immediate return to the promised land. Kean was given money to spend, including £8m on striker Jordan Rhodes, and it appeared to be working when the team went top of the table after six matches. Then, one week later, the Venky’s decided this was the time to lose faith in their man, just as he finally had the results to back him up. Kean was ’forced to resign’ with Blackburn third in the Championship.

Now, two full-time managers later, they are 18th, four points above the relegation zone and on a run of no wins in eight in all competitions. Former star player Henning Berg lasted just 57 days in the hot-seat. Michael Appleton was this week given the boot after 67 days in charge.

So who will be next through the revolving door at Ewood Park? Reserve team coach Gary Bowyer supposedly takes the reigns till the end of the campaign, although even that shouldn’t be taken for granted. However, he did have a successful four-game spell as caretaker around the turn of the year. Bowyer is the 7/2 (PaddyPower) favourite to land the job permanently.

But if things don’t go to plan, who else is primed to step into the breach? Nigel Adkins (8/1 StanJames) was thrown to the lions at Southampton recently and although he certainly deserves the opportunity, it would seem almost masochistic for him to accept the role if offered.

Paulo Di Canio (16/1 StanJames) would surely offer up a hilarious sideshow but the former West Ham star may receive a better offer than this if he willing to bide his time. Having just left Swindon at the top of League One he may be reluctant to join a club hurtling in that general direction.

Brian McDermott (20/1 StanJames) fits into the same category as Nigel Adkins ie he would look like a glutton for punishment if he teamed up with such eccentric owners after his harsh Reading dismissal. Furthermore, Roberto Di Matteo (20/1 BetVictor) surely visualises a better offer than Blackburn less than a year after he guided Chelsea to the FA Cup and Champions League double.

Instead, in many ways a better fit for Rovers appears to be Sven-Goran Eriksson; a 14/1 shot (BetVictor) to be next permanent boss and 20/1 (Skybet) to be installed by the opening day of next season. It could be a marriage made in heaven, at least for a little while. The Venky’s would probably want a big name, and he’s one of the few who is likely to say yes.

Sven has shown he is willing to go to all sorts of unlikely destinations so long as the price is right. The former England manager has tried his hand at everything from coach of the Ivory Coast to Director of Football at Notts County in recent years. The 65-year-old is currently Technical Director of BEC Tero Sasana - a team in the Thai Premier League. It smacks of being the sort of thing the Swede does before a better offer comes along.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates was keen to reveal that Sven had unsuccessfully applied for the vacant job at Elland Road after Simon Grayson left in February last year. Having already tried his hand at Leicester, it would appear he fancies another bite of the cherry in the English Championship. Blackburn Rovers should still just about be able to offer that in a few weeks’ time. A healthy pay-check would surely be forthcoming, so at long-odds, this could just be a union waiting to happen.