Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has been shortlisted by Blackburn Rovers to replace their parting manager Tony Mowbray, according to national reports.

Rovers are set to wave goodbye to Mowbray at the end of this season as his contract expires following a five-year stint at the club.

Life-long Rovers fan, Ainsworth has reportedly been named on the Lancashire club's list of new potential bosses.

However, it is believed Blackburn expect to speak to a number of candidates in the coming weeks and would prefer a boss who does not have compensation.

This would mean Ainsworth would be an exception to that as the Wycombe boss is still on the payroll at Adams Park following the signing of his "long-term" contract back in February 2020.

Former Norwich boss Daniel Farke has been reported as being interested in the role and may be seen as a preferable option with Rovers hoping to make a quick appointment.

The German, 45, briefly managed Krasnodar but resigned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ainsworth and Farke are currently the bookie's favourites to take over the hot seat at Ewood Park this summer.

Speaking after Wycombe's 2-1 win against Burton, Ainsworth said: “I rang my dad after the game and that was really special for me.

“He’s been there right through and I’m getting a bit emotional now because he’s backed me as a player and a manager unbelievably.”

Ainsworth rang his dad after he was released from Blackburn Rovers as an 18-year-old boy.

Speaking in 2013 after announcing his retirement, he said: “I’ll never forget the day I was released from Blackburn Rovers.

"It was on my 18th birthday.

“I remember holding it together in Don Mackay’s office as best I could, walking out of the stadium into the road and breaking down in tears.

“My dad said to me the words I’ll never forget, ‘you’ll make it’.

"I’ll never forget that.

“To have something like that has been outstanding and I’ll do the same for my son.

"There are more important things than football in the world and family’s one of them - that proved it.”

His father, Bill, acted as his agent during his playing career and helped him bounce back from his Rovers release. 

However, his focus will certainly now be on Wycombe's League One play-off semi-final clash with MK Dons later this week.

Wycombe will host MK Dons at Adams Park on Thursday (April 5) evening before travelling north of the county on Sunday (April 8) for the second leg at Stadium MK.