Blackburn Uproar If 'Wally With The Bolly' Gets Job!

After receiving more than 40 formal applications (41 actually, but ours was turned down), Rovers chairman John Williams met his fellow directors yesterday to draw up a shortlist of candidates ahead of an interviewing process that is expected to last for the rest of the week.

Shearer, McClaren and Allardyce are understood to be on the list, along with MK Dons boss Paul Ince and Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat.

But can you imagine the uproar at Ewood Park should McClaren get the job?

Williams is hoping to have appointed Blackburn's new manager by "the start of next week at the latest", and it is the possibility of Shearer beginning his managerial career at Ewood Park that is causing most interest in the North-East.

Newcastle's all-time record goalscorer is currently in Austria and Switzerland working as a BBC analyst at the European Championships.

Shearer was initially believed to be reluctant to give up his current media work for a full-time managerial position.

However, if Shearer turns down Rovers obviously he is having cold feet jumping into management. Because Ewood Park is perfect for him.

He may like the easy-going, no pressure TV studio, but that is for others like Alan Hansen, Lee Dixon, and Mark Lawrenson who haven't the balls to get into management.

If Shearer is serious about management ... DO IT ... don't tell us all what a great manager he would be!

Sources in Lancashire claim Shearer has given a clear indication of his willingness to take over at Ewood Park, and that must be good news.

The former Newcastle striker, who would almost certainly appoint former Hartlepool manager Mike Newell as his number two, topped a recent poll amongst Rovers supporters and would be an extremely popular appointment because of his successful playing career with the club.

Shearer, as short as 2-1 to become Blackburn's next manager with most bookmakers, helped Rovers lift the Premier League title in 1995, and scored 112 goals in his 138 appearances in the North-West.

He was linked with the Newcastle manager's job when Allardyce was sacked in January, and would have accepted it despite initially distancing himself from the mounting speculation.

However, he was not considered for the post after owner Mike Ashley prioritised managerial experience, and instead accepted a full-time position with the BBC.

Ironically, McClaren is also currently employed by the BBC as a radio pundit for Euro 2008, and Blackburn officials are expected to meet both him and Shearer in Austria or Switzerland this week.

McClaren confirmed his candidature at the weekend, claiming: "Of course that (the Blackburn job) would interest me. Unfortunately what happened with England was a huge failure, but I want to get back into management."