Rovers have received recommendations from Champions League winning boss Carlos Ancelotti for Duncan Ferguson as their managerial search gets set to enter a fourth week.

Ancelotti, winner of four Champions League and domestic titles in four countries, contacted the club to put forward his backing for Ferguson who is the bookmakers favourite to land the Ewood Park job.

There has been no approach made to Everton by Rovers for Ferguson who is currently part of Frank Lampard’s coaching team at Goodison Park.

Ferguson has twice had caretaker spells in charge of Everton, and is keen on moving into management, but Rovers are yet to make contact in their search to replace Tony Mowbray.

That is despite the backing of Ancelotti who worked with Ferguson at Everton, where the Scot made his name as a player, with the Italian having contacted Rovers last month to put forward his reference.

Working against Ferguson is that his appointment would come with a level of risk given his lack of managerial experience, while the club are also understood to have placed Championship knowledge on their list of requirements.

Yet through Ancelotti’s recommendations, the 50-year-old is an option known to the club, which could lead to a potential approach.

That search is now heading into a fourth week, with a number of known candidates having fallen away.

Carlos Carvalhal had spoken with Rovers about the potential of taking over, but took up interest from Middle East side Al Wahda FC on a one-year deal after leaving SC Braga.

Daniel Farke was also under consideration for the role but completed his move to Borussia Monchengladbach on a three-year deal on Saturday.

Both were expected moves, with Rovers looking to carry out a second round of interviews as they whittle down their shortlist from eight to three.

Rovers initially identified five candidates, but at least were then interviewed across a 10-day period due to late interest shown in the role.

That has taken the search into a fourth week, with Rovers looking to appoint both a sporting director and head coach.

Whether by design or circumstance, Rovers could yet look to approach other clubs about their coaches in a bid to fill the vacancy.

They have done that only once, Michael Appleton in 2013, during the ownership of Venky’s.

The players will return for pre-season testing on the week commencing June 13, before being back in full training the following week.

Their first friendly starts on July 9, with the season to get under way three weeks later.

Rovers are also searching for a head of athletic performance following the departure of Liam Mason to Newcastle United, while their recruitment team has also been impacted, with analyst Matthew Barrett having left to join Stuart Harvey at Sunderland, while head of recruitment John Park is also out of contract at the end of the month.

So far Rovers have only confirmed the departure of Mowbray and assistant Mark Venus, with the rest of the coaching staff remaining in post.

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