Winners and losers of the Championship transfer window: Middlesbrough, Derby County and Wrexham’s actions analysed

A sense of gallows humor may lead some Blackburn fans to claim that the sacking of Valerien Ismael on deadline day actually ended a challenging month on a positive note, given the perceived detrimental impact the Frenchman had on the Rovers side.

But strategically, whoever replaces Ismail will inherit the same problems he has been grappling with, with no flexibility to do anything about it until June, which may be too late by then.

Eran Kashin is a high-profile defender in the Championship who could improve most teams in the division, but one extra body does not address the team’s significant injury issues at centre-back, something Ismail has consistently advertised.

Financial support has come in the form of the signing of Matthias Jørgensen from Bodo/Glimt, while Dapo Afolayan has arrived with attacking pedigree, albeit largely in League One.

These signings add more depth, competition and, hopefully, additional quality in the final third and directly impact the starting lineup rather than as deep pieces, but the group looks short-lived, especially at the other end of the pitch.

Results dictate much of the narrative, and the league’s stance, Ismail’s dismissal and ongoing fan discontent is more than enough evidence that all is not well at Ewood Park, which perhaps bleeds into an analysis of their work over the past month.

But with a squad that does not appear to have been strengthened enough, and the need for a new coach to work within a very specific framework, it is difficult to know whether significant improvement can be achieved.