Former Preston North End favourite Gareth Ainsworth could return to Lancashire with Blackburn Rovers interested in appointing him.
That’s according to The Sun, who claim that Ainsworth is on the Blackburn shortlist as they consider appointing a new manager.
Current boss Tony Mowbray looks set to leave Ewood Park with his contract expiring this summer and no renewal is in sight.
Rovers are now likely to consider other options and Wycombe Wanderers boss Ainsworth is one potential option.
Ainsworth was born in Blackburn, started his career in the Rovers youth setup and grew up supporting the club.
You can therefore imagine why the 48-year-old is believed to be interested in taking over at Ewood Park.
Ainsworth clearly holds Blackburn close but some may actually see him as being more synonymous with Preston.
Ainsworth had not one, not two but three spells with North End as a player, becoming a fan favourite and cult hero in the process.
Now in charge of Wycombe, Ainsworth guided the Chairboys to the Championship back in 2020.
Wycombe are into the League One playoffs once again and Ainsworth could yet repeat the trick and bring them back to the second tier.
That would be a hugely impressive feat, with Ainsworth working wonders on a budget at Wycombe.
Blackburn have seemingly been impressed and, if reports are to be believed, so were Preston!
North End allegedly had Ainsworth on their wish list to replace Frankie McAvoy but ended up going for Ryan Lowe instead.
Ainsworth is now back in contention for a major Championship job, though ex-Norwich City boss Daniel Farke is interested in the Rovers role.
Seeing Ainsworth take over at Rovers may hurt some Preston fans but you couldn’t really begrudge him the chance to manage his hometown and boyhood club.