Former Birmingham City boss John Eustace is poised to leave Blackburn Rovers to become the new manager of Championship rivals Derby County.

TalkSPORT reports that Eustace has decided to leave Rovers exactly a year after taking the job at Ewood Park. Derby made an approach for Eustace over the weekend and he now looks set to succeed Paul Warne in the Pride Park hotseat.

The 45-year-old has guided Blackburn to sixth place in the Championship, which is ironically the position Blues were in when he departed in October 2023, and will take over a Derby side 22nd in the table.

READ MORE: Chris Davies gives Paik and Willumsson updates as Birmingham City pair learn injury fate

READ MORE: Chris Davies might have to reverse Krystian Bielik decision to solve Birmingham City issue

Eustace’s exit puts Dion Sanderson in a slightly awkward position after the Blues defender moved to Blackburn to play under him in January. Sanderson has started once and made four appearances in total in the Championship for Rovers since joining on loan from Blues.

Speaking after signing for Eustace at Blackburn, Sanderson said: "I had him at QPR when he was the assistant and I got on really well with him, then he went to Birmingham City as a manager. Funnily enough he gave me a ring asking if I wanted to play some football and I said, ‘Yeah, sure!’.

"Every game I played under him was brilliant. He’s a great manager to play for, I love his style of play, his staff are class. The desire and the hunger he has towards the fans, I’ve seen it at this club but especially at Birmingham, made me want to come and play for Blackburn.

"He’s a manager I want to play for and work with. It makes it easier to come down to Blackburn knowing how he wants to play and what he wants from his players."