"Bowyer Out" better than "Bowyer In"

Three wins, one draw, zero defeats, nine goals scored, only two conceded.

It's the sort of record that most teams would kill for and indeed, certain teams in Italy have even tried paying match officials for.

But that is the exact record that Rovers caretaker manager Gary Bowyer managed to produce in his short stint in charge of the first team. Pretty impressive, heck that's even more impressive given he managed to muster it whilst trying his best to ignore the direct distraction emanating from above his head (not literally, well that we know of).

Yes the onslaught that is the Rovers boardroom bust up bandwagon shows no sign of slowing down and it's becoming less of a joke and more of a constant threat to any dwindling chance of prosperity the team can enjoy this season.

So for a Reserve/Youth team coach to come in, knuckle down and gain the more or less universal respect of his colleagues, the players and of course, the ever skeptical fans has to be viewed as pat on the back worthy.

In fact Bowyer did so well during his three week spell in charge that prior to the appointment of genuine Nikolai Valuev lookalike Michael Appleton as the club's new full time manager, a handful of the more senior players at the club made a plea to the clowns in charge powers that be to keep faith with good old Gary for a while longer... perhaps even for good.

By and large this seemed to be a sentiment echoed by the fans who took to various form of social media platforms and club messageboards to pronounce via the general consensus that the list of external options for the hot seat were a drab bunch at best, with G-Bow a more appealing option given that he had hit the ground running.

It probably helped the temporary manager that he came across as a thoroughly likeable and switched on son of a gun, which whilst not meaning a great deal in the technical quality department certainly didn't hurt his cause.

But Shagnew, Shebby and the family of Rao decided that the now former Blackpool and Portsmouth head honcho Appleton was the way to go. I'm not sure we'll get an explanation why, if we do get one it probably won't make much sense anyway. But the new man in charge deserves the backing of the Rovers faithful - he might not have the most impressive managerial record going but he'll not stand a chance if he's given a hard time from the stands.

However for Gary Bowyer it's the end of this road and a trip back to managing the Academy and Reserves sides. Chances are it might feel a bit deflating given his more high profile exertions of recent times but there could be - as hindsight may reveal later down the line - an upside to his seemingly inevitable demotion back to Rovers obscurity.

By only being in charge for the short term and with a finite shelf life, the popular Bowyer has increased his reputation at a club that hasn't enhanced many in recent times and without the risk of it being tarnished by an extended run that could have turned sour once the "honeymoon" period was over.

As many a historical footballing example will showcase, being a caretaker and being a manager can be two separate existences. Both roles have different pressures and perhaps more importantly different expectations.

As a caretaker you're merely helping out, you've got an unstable future and the paying customer largely expects the bare minimum or very little. But as a manager you're the man with all the responsibility, you're being paid big bucks to perform in one of the most critical environments in the world and the focus is 100%, without falter, without forgiveness on you.

Lose two games as caretaker and you're only a placeholder. Lose two games as a manager and you're tactically inept and in a crisis.

With our man's lack of experience it would have only taken a brace of defeats before we all started screaming for some "experience" again.

I could go on, but I won't as it could get boring fast.

What did become apparent over the Bowyer and McPhillips mini-reign is how much Gary and the gang care for the club. To see someone speak with real passion and consideration for Blackburn Rovers was both endearing and heart warming... especially when the shambles in the boardroom seem to care only for their own leverage and position of power.

He wasn't so much a rose between two thorns, more a rather bright lily surprisingly flourishing in a nettle bush of constant pain.

But how long could he have kept that form up? Particularly in the near toxic working conditions of football's most dysfunctional entity?

Why risk what you've already got for a crack at (currently) one of the most difficult jobs in English football?

Bowyer could have made a very good manager for all we know, I guess now we'll never find out. But by being unceremoniously dumped and taken out of the firing line I'd wager he's managed to accidentally stumble his way to a lucky escape.

And you only need to ask one of Ewood's favourite sons what being a good caretaker and not risking the full time gig can do for you... longevity and security at your chosen club and a spot in the affections of the fans.

He should know, Tony Parkes was here for 35 years.