Standard Liege are hoping for an answer from Rovers managerial target Ronny Deila this weekend.

Liege have held talks with the New York City boss about the prospect of taking over, with Rovers also showing an interest in the Norwegian coach.

Yet the situation appears particularly complex.

Standard’s interest in Deila is no surprise as their links with the City Group continue to grow stronger.

In May, their owners, 777 Partners LLC, appointed Don Dransfield, former chief strategy officer of City Football Group, as chief executive.

Last month, Standard also employed Fergal Harkin, as the sporting director, arriving from Manchester City who are owned by the group.

Having lost two City Football Group employees to Standard, New York City are digging in their heels over Deila and want to avoid making it a hat-trick, with relationships between the two said to be strained as a result.

Liege had expected an answer from Deila over their managerial position last week, but haven’t given up hope of landing the former Celtic boss, though this weekend appears to be crucial to their plans.

Like Rovers, Standard return to pre-season training next week, and are keen to get an answer over their managerial position.

Equally, MLS is currently taking in an international break, with New York having not played since the 1-0 win at Minnesota on May 29, and return to action against Colorado on June 19.

So all three clubs will want definitive answers either way, with Rovers’ managerial search now into a second month.

Should Rovers want to press ahead with a move for Deila, then that would require compensation being agreed with New York City, while the prospect of needing a work permit could add an extra delay.

With targets such as Carvalhal (Al Wahda FC) and Daniel Farke (Borussia Monchengladbach) having since gone elsewhere, Rovers will be keen to avoid a similar situation with the 46-year-old New York City boss.

Deila won the Scottish title twice during his two years with Celtic, as well as a league cup, also winning a league and domestic cup with Strømsgodset and the MLS Cup with New York City last year.

One positive for Rovers is that it is suggested Deila would only want to bring his current assistant manager, Efrain Juarez, with him to any new venture which would fit with Rovers’ plans.

That is contrasting to Carlos Carvalhal who had wanted to bring with him an extensive coaching staff should he have landed the job.

Mark Venus has left his role as assistant manager, after Mowbray’s departure, leaving a vacancy for that position, but David Lowe, Ben Benson and Damien Johnson all remain in post.

TAKE OUT A SUPSCRIPTION...

Gain unlimited access to the Lancashire Telegraph website with a premium digital subscription with a one month FREE trial