Championship club appoint 'clever' new manager ahead of QPR and Millwall fixtures

Derby County will face QPR on Saturday and Millwall next weekend under the new management of John Eustace, having convinced the coach to swap Blackburn Rovers for Pride Park.

The 45-year-old had been pushing for the play-offs with Rovers this season, the club sitting fifth in the Championship, but has been snapped up by the Rams in a head-turning piece of business. Derby County are fighting for survival in 21st place but have brought former player Eustace back to the club.

Blackburn Rovers had already confirmed that they had given the green light for negotiations between the manager and Derby County, but that they were ‘reluctant’ to do so. The Rams confirmed the appointment of Eustace on Thursday morning.

Derby County confirm Blackburn Rovers coup

Owner David Clowes said: “I’m excited to welcome John back to Derby County. Fans will remember him for his craft, commitment and intelligence. He was a real leader. I’ve followed his managerial career with interest, and it’s clear he has the qualities we need to maintain our progress.

“He helped both Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City avoid relegation, before taking Birmingham to sixth place prior to his departure. He has repeated that achievement at Blackburn Rovers, leaving behind a team in the play-off places. I am thrilled that he shares our belief in the potential of Derby County and that he wants to play a leading role in our plans.

"When we bought the club, I was moved by the passion, solidarity and shared belief that bonded all of us who cared about Derby County. From the players, to the staff and to every single fan, we shared a determination to save the club and drive it forward.

"It's the same bond we need now as we get behind John and the players for these final 14 games. That bond was clear at Norwich last Saturday, a team fighting and refusing to be beaten, urged on by our magnificent support.This is now a season within a season and it’s time for that passion, solidarity and shared belief again, to show what the Rams mean to us all.”

The appointment of Eustace is of particularly significance to the London clubs in the Championship, who play Derby County in the next two rounds of fixtures. The Rams travel to Loftus Road this weekend, Eustace returning to his former side for the second time this month, before Millwall make the trip to Pride Park next weekend.

John Eustace on ‘fantastic’ time at Loftus Road

Eustace only landed the Blackburn Rovers role in February 2024, having been sacked by Birmingham City in October 2023. The manager is well known to QPR fans, having initially worked alongside Steve McClaren at Loftus Road in 2018 before a brief role as caretaker boss in 2019.

During that short stint, Eustace helped the R's avoid relegation with seven points from his seven games in charge. The Rovers manager saw his side beaten 2-1 by his former club earlier this month.

Ahead of that game, Eustace looked back fondly at his time in west London. He said: “It is a fantastic stadium, a fantastic place to work. I have got some real good friends there. QPR are playing really well at the moment as well, so we are looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“They are playing some really exciting, attacking football. They have got some real match winners there, the recruitment has been very good. The club is ran very well, a real top team in the Championship.”

In other news, QPR have been hit with a significant injury blow ahead of this week’s meeting with Derby County.