Blackburn Rovers facing fresh off-field issue involving Rudy Gestede | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers decision makers are split over who to hire as the club's next chief scout

The hierarchy at Blackburn Rovers are split over who to appoint as the club's new chief scout, following the recent departure of John Park.

Park left his role as Head of Recruitment at Ewood Park in November, just five months after he returned to the Lancashire outfit last June, after previously holding the job from 2021-2022.

According to a report from journalist Alan Nixon via Patreon, Rovers' Head of Football Operations Rudy Gestede is keen to appoint a German or Frenchman as Park's replacement ahead of the January transfer window, which would appear to be aimed at focusing on a more European-based recruitment strategy.

However, other club officials are currently in talks with former Brighton scout John Doolan, while ex-Borussia Dortmund scout Daniel Dodds - who was the United Kingdom and Scandinavian scout for the Bundesliga outfit - is also in the frame for the job.

Blackburn Rovers set for important chief scout decision but decision won't be unanimous

John Eustace's side made several key additions during the summer transfer window, such as the signing of forward Yuki Ohashi, who has subsequently scored four Championship goals.

Rovers also acquired former Rangers midfield ace Todd Cantwell last summer, and he has adjusted back to life in English football well, having previously starred in both the second tier and the Premier League with Norwich City.

And after the Lancashire outfit narrowly avoided relegation to League One last campaign, such additions have helped the club change their fortunes around.

In fact, following a run of four consecutive wins, including impressive victories over promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Leeds United, a resurgent Rovers side currently sit sixth in the Championship table, and their hunt for a play-off place is looking very real over a third of the way through the season.

While the battle for the top-six is set to heat up as ever with the business end of the campaign fast approaching, Blackburn will not want to fall behind their play-off rivals due to a lack of January transfer window activity.

However, if the club cannot sort out their disagreement over who to hire as Park's replacement, then that could be the exact scenario which faces Eustace and co next month.

It would not be the first time that there is some sort of power struggle at Ewood Park recently - and that is the exact reason why Park has appeared to depart the club recently.

As per Nixon, Park quit Rovers for the second time in the space of a few years last month amid tension in the boardroom between several parties.

Former striker Gestede was brought in as Head of Football Operations over the summer to replace Gregg Broughton, but there was also the addition of Head of Technical Development Adam Owen too in the same period.

The duo have added to already existing board members Steve Waggott (CEO) and Suhail Pasha (COO), who have been directly connected to club owners the Venky's for a number of years now, and it has been inferred multiple times now that there is somewhat of a lack of alignment off the pitch when it comes to Rovers.

Blackburn Rovers must continue their positive form in spite of off-field decisions

One matter which is very much still in Eustace's control is his side's on-field performances, and they can further bolster their top-six credentials with a win at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night.

With a potentially tricky January transfer window up ahead, it is imperative that the Ewood Park side can maintain their strong form throughout December, while upcoming clashes with Wednesday and Millwall, who are both in the play-off chasing pack, could prove pivotal.

If the job is done on the pitch correctly and results come, then you'd hope that off-field matters will figure themselves out, but Blackburn have not done anything in a simple manner in recent years, so there could be more potential twists to come.