Brian Kidd is expected to announce in the next 24 hours whether he wishes to accept the responsibility for attempting to preserve Blackburn Rovers' Premiership status.

Kidd is seriously considering leaving his post as assistant to Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson to make the short journey to Ewood Park. Earlier this week the 49-year-old was officially named as Blackburn's first choice to succeed the dismissed Roy Hodgson, but his chance of assuming control at the Lancashire club appeared to have ended on Tuesday with United's refusal to grant him permission to open talks.

United's chief executive Martin Edwards was adamant that Kidd would see out his contract, but now seems to be preparing for a parting of the ways. "It is up to Brian now," he said. "There is a lot of thinking to be done on both sides. I have told Brian about Blackburn's approach and that we turned it down. That is all I can do. We will just have to see what happens next."

Although Kidd had a two-month spell of front-line management at Preston in 1986, he has spent a total 18 years at United, the last seven of them working as Ferguson's right-hand man.

Kidd would dearly like to succeed Ferguson upon his retirement and is seriously considering Blackburn's offer in the belief that any experience of top-class management - even at a struggling club - would greatly improve his chances of taking control at Old Trafford.

Certainly Kidd would benefit financially if he succumbs to the overtures of Blackburn's wealthy benefactor Jack Walker.

Kidd is believed to earn around £200,000 a year at United, a figure which could be comfortably trebled if he agreed to move. He was faced with an almost identical dilemma only six months ago when he was invited to take control at one of his former clubs, Everton, after the dismissal of Howard Kendall.