Carlos Carvalhal says he ‘doesn’t know’ what the future holds for him amid continuing links with the Ewood Park hotseat.

Carvalhal is a free agent after his contract with Portuguese side SC Braga came to an end after two seasons with the club, which saw him win domestic silverware and qualify for European football.

The 56-year-old is in demand after leaving Braga, hotly linked with a move to Brazil, while he remains favourite with bookmakers to land the Rovers job.

In the search for a replacement for Tony Mowbray, Rovers are meeting with candidates having whittled down the list of applicants to a shortlist, understood to be at least five deep, and to include overseas options, with those to be held remotely.

Rovers received in the region of 50 serious applications for the managerial position and have now reached a shortlist from which they will select a replacement for Mowbray who left at the end of his contract.

Carvalhal is no stranger to English football, a two-and-a-half year stay with Sheffield Wednesday saw him reach a Championship play-off final, before a six month spell with Swansea City which ended in 2018.

His last two jobs have been in his native Portugal, but links with Brazilian side Flamengo have continued, with Carvalhal revealing some truth to that speculation, even though that won’t be materialising right now.

Equally, he said no decision had been made over his next move, with Rovers having made no comment on their managerial search.

He told Portuguese press: “I don't bluff, I honestly don't know which one (for) my next step.

"Flamengo came to Portugal, but there was no willingness to pay (compensation), in Brazil there is no such culture.

“I realised early on that it would not evolve. Then Atlético Mineiro appeared, something real, but due to the commitment I had with Braga, I didn't even (think).

“It's possible that I can go to Brazil in the future, I take credit from the fans and from several clubs who came to me. I have a positive image in the country and there is some expectation as to what I could do there.”

Rovers are looking for a sporting director, as well as a manager, but the search for the latter is understood to be the more pressing at this moment in time, with both running parallel to each other.

Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth is another to have been linked with the role due to his links to the club but also his impressive achievements with the Chairboys.

They missed out on an immediate return to the Championship with defeat to Sunderland in the League One play-off final on Saturday, but Ainsworth intends to stay on at Adams Park.

He told the BBC: "To see the kids, this new generation, wearing Wycombe shirts and getting behind their team, I think we've got a good future at this football club," he said.

"I'm proud to say the boys have given absolutely everything on the pitch. I'm a proud manager.”

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