Bowyer seeks a show of support

Bowyer has brought in a host of new faces since taking the reins earlier this summer.

The 45-year-old is set to face his old club Blackburn for the first time since he was sacked in November 2015.

The club has had a number of off-field issues over the last few years but Bowyer stressed he can only control what goes on on the pitch.

He said: “It is not going to be like this at Bloomfield Road with the weather every week.

“It is a chance for the fans to see some of the players that we have signed and how they are progressing,

“We have got to take into consideration we are playing a Championship side and a good Championship side at that, we will give it a go.

“I’d invite everyone to come down and have a look.

“It is my first experience being in the club but everybody has been aware of what has happened off the pitch but I can only control what we can control which is getting the players to focus on trying to play decent football and try and win games.”

Bowyer has opened up about the hurt he felt when he was sacked at Blackburn

He spent more than 11 years at the club after becoming Blackburn’s Under-18 coach in 2004 and was named reserve team boss in 2008.

He stepped up to caretaker boss after Henning Berg’s departure in 2012 and took temporary charge after Michael Appleton’s exit in March 2013.

Bowyer took over permanently in May 2013 but was sacked just before the club’s financial fair play ban was lifted in December 2015.

Bowyer said: “I had wonderful times there and it hurt to get the sack there because I have reflected on it, I look at my track record and what I did when I was manager; we did not do too badly.

“I’m not much for self praise but it hurt and I was disappointed but that is gone now and I didn’t have the opportunity to thank the supporters for the support that I had from them because they were magnificent with me when I was a caretaker.

“They were magnificent with me when we had a fantastic cup run in the second year in the FA Cup and I think they were magnificent with me when they understood the embargo.

“It was a little bit disappointing with the amount of work that had gone on to try and come out of the embargo that it happened so quickly after we departed but I think the fans understood at the time, the situation of the club.

“It will be an opportunity to thank (the Blackburn fans) and now look at this stadium (Bloomfield Road), it is a fantastic stadium and it is a great opportunity for me now and I’ve got to build on that and grab the opportunity that I have been presented with.”

n Sam Allardyce has signed an initial two-year deal to become England’s new boss, the FA has announced.

The 61-year-old former Blackpool boss knew the job was his on Wednesday but a compensation package with his club Sunderland needed to be finalised before the announcement could be made.

Allardyce, who begins work immediately, said: “I am extremely honoured to be appointed England manager especially as it is no secret that this is the role I have always wanted. For me, it is absolutely the best job in English football.”