Rovers were continuing to conduct interviews for the club’s managerial position on this day in 2016 and 2013, but one looked closer to being resolved than theother.

The club were pressing on with talks to install Gary Bowyer as the club’s new permanent boss despite further reports about a move for Tim Sherwood in 2013.

Sherwood has insisted he was happy to remain in his role as technical co-ordinator at Tottenham Hotspur following links to the vacancy at Ewood Park.

Rovers officials also distanced themselves from reports suggesting they were interested in bringing in their former captain, with senior figures hoping to imminently announce Bowyer as their new manager.

As the search for Paul Lambert’s successor went on three years later, Neil Warnock remained the bookmakers’ favourite to take over. However, the 67-year-old, who was targeting an eighth promotion of his career, insisted he was not on the verge of taking over from Lambert.

In 2012, mystery surrounded the future of Steve Kean after the club’s relegation from the Premier League. The under-fire Rovers boss had been the subject of mass speculation following two days of talks with Venkys in India but both he and the club owners remained tight-lipped upon his return.

Confusion grew over his managerial future, summed up by two national newspapers, one reporting he would stay as boss and the other saying he would be removed as manager.

In 2003, there were doubts over David Dunn’s future as a Rovers player after he turned down the offer of a new contract.

Boss Graeme Souness wanted Dunn to stay at Ewood and the club approached him about the possibility of signing a new deal.

However, the England midfielder indicated he was not prepared to commit his long-term future to the club, which looked set to hasten his departure that summer, with Birmingham and Everton both monitoring the situation closely.

Meanwhile, Rovers remained keen on a move for Millwall midfielder Steven Reid.

May 21 was also a day for speculation over the future of Morten Gamst Pedersen. In 2004, Rovers were poised to make him their first signing of the summer following discussions with Pedersen’s club Tromso over a £1.5m deal.

Manchester United, Newcastle and Aston Villa were thought to be keen on Pedersen but Rovers looked to have stolen an early march on their rivals.

That deal was concluded later that summer, but three years later, Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol was lining up a fresh move for the Norwegian.

Spurs had tried to sign Pedersen in the previous summer for £5m, with Rovers rejecting that offer, and maintained their stance that Pedersen was going nowhere.

The club also distanced themselves from speculation linking them with a move for Derby County protégé Giles Barnes.

Overseas strikers were also being discussed in years gone by, though Rovers finally accepted defeat in their bid to sign Polish striker Robert Lewandowski in 2010.

Rovers had been tracking Lewandowski for some time but decided not to make an offer for the 21-year-old Lech Poznan forward because of his lack of experience at the top level.

Sam Allardyce instead turned his attention elsewhere, with Lyon’s Frederic Piquionne among the main targets.

Lewandowski had been invited to Ewood Park to watch a home game against Everton but that plan was scuppered by the volcanic ash cloud, with Borussia Dortmund set to sign him.

Then in 1998, Roy Hodgson had targeted Italian striker Carmine Esposito as he looked to bolster his strike force.

The Empoli striker, valued at £3.5m, scored 14 times in Serie A, and had been watched by the Rovers staff, with contact made between the two clubs.