Blackburn Rovers boss casts huge doubt over future amid relegation battle with Portsmouth, Leicester City & Co

The boss of Pompey relegation rivals Blackburn Rovers, Michael O’Neill, has cast doubt over his future with Ewood Park outfit.

The 54-year-old was tasked with keeping Rovers in the Championship following his appointment in February on a dual-contract agreement with the Northern Ireland national team.

And the former Stoke City boss maintained those international responsibilities as he took charge of the Green and White Army’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy last Thursday night.

Although Northern Ireland’s World Cup dreams are now over following a 2-0 defeat in Bergamo, reports have emerged suggesting the IFA are weighing up an extension to O’Neill’s current, which doesn’t expire until 2028.

The experienced boss has taken charge of the national side 103 times during two stints at the Windsor Park helm and also led them to a Round of 16 finish at Euro 2016 in France.

Following this Tuesday’s game against Wales, O’Neill will return to Ewood Park to see out the remainder of the campaign as Rovers bid to maintain their Championship status.

Blackburn boss casts doubt over future

Blackburn currently sit four points clear of the bottom three, and three above Pompey, as the race for survival intensifies.

But the Northern Irishman has admitted he will ‘revert back to the status quo’ at the end of the season - casting major doubt over a potential return to Lancashire in the summer.

O’Neill said: ‘A lot of work had already been done before I arrived at Blackburn; I’ll remain manager for Tuesday evening’s match and for Blackburn’s next seven games.

‘I will manage the remaining seven games for Blackburn Rovers, but my contract is still with the Irish FA.

‘I'm contracted to 2028 and after Blackburn Rovers, I'll revert back to the status quo, which is the national team manager.’

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Michael O’Neill’s Blackburn record as race for survival intensifies

O’Neill was appointed as Valerian Ismael’s successor at Rovers in February, with Blackburn sat 22nd in the Championship standings.

The ex-Newcastle United forward has overseen a relatively positive improvement during his month-and-a-half in the Ewood Park hot seat, which has seen them lose just three times in his eight games in charge.

In the midst of that, Rovers snatched a vital point against Pompey at the start of the month, with Hayden Carter netting a 93rd-minute equaliser against his former club.

The Lancashire outfit now occupy 19th in the Championship and are unbeaten in their previous two league matches.

This has seen them climb out of the bottom three and are four points clear of 22nd-placed Leicester City, with seven games remaining.

Blackburn’s next game is away to Birmingham on Friday, before they entertain fellow Championship strugglers West Brom at home on Bank Holiday Monday.

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