With Blackburn’s promotion ambitions crumbling into dust, this is the last thing Rovers fans wanted to hear.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph after a 1-1 draw with Coventry City which saw one of the Championship’s most talented teams fall 12 points adrift of the play-off places, manager Tony Mowbray insisted he wouldn’t stand in Adam Armstrong’s way if a top-flight club comes calling in the summer.
“Of course, if the Premier League comes calling, I would never try and deny a player the chance to go and play in the Premier League as long as the club is recompensed correctly for the value we thought and what we could reinvest,” said the under-fire coach.
From a financial perspective, selling Armstrong for £25 million amid interest from West Ham United, Everton and Fulham is the very definition of ‘good business’; a £23.25 million profit made on a striker snapped up from Newcastle three years ago (Sun).
But fans care little about balance sheets. They want results, ambition and something to aim for.
They would also prefer Mowbray to show a bit of fight when discussing the future of his 19-goal top scorer. This is not the first time Mowbray has hinted at Armstrong’s impending departure.
Given the choice, Rovers fans would sooner see their beleaguered boss pack up his things and head for the exit before Armstrong does.
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