Blackburn: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a candidate for manager job

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the unexpected name on the list of early candidates to replace Steve Kean as manager of Blackburn. Representatives of the 39-year-old Norwegian manager have expressed an interest in the post, with Tim Sherwood and former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster also in the frame. Solskjaer made an instant impact in his managerial career as he won the Norwegian league title in his first full season with Molde. His contract expires in 2014. Sir Alex Ferguson, Solskjaer's mentor, has tipped his former striker as a future great manager. "If you go to a club in Norway that have never won the league in their history and you win that league, then you have to have something about you," the United legendary manager said last year. After ending his playing career in 2007, Solskjaer took charge of United's reserve team for two and a half years before guiding Molde to their first Norwegian league title in 100 years in 2011. Molde are on track to win another title as they top of the table this season, with the final game due to take place on 18 November. Steve Kean quit on Friday, with his assistant Eric Black taking caretaker charge for the 1-1 draw at Charlton. Rovers managing director Derek Shaw says appointing a manager to replace the Scot will be a significant decision in Blackburn's history. "Every managerial appointment is important and there are one or two interested names that have come through already. The phones have been ringing and people have been putting names forward for the vacancy. We'll have to discuss that in the next week or two. When there's something proper, everybody will be told." Bet365 have Tim Sherwood and Erick Black as favourites for the Blackburn job, both priced at 7/2, while Solskjaer is at 9/2.