Kidd is the latest name to be linked with the Ewood Park vacancy, but United chief executive Martin Edwards vowed that he would only join Blackburn "over my dead body".

He said: "Every time a manager's job comes up, Brian Kidd gets linked with it. We've had it before with Manchester City a couple of times, we had it with Everton in the summer and now with Blackburn."

Kidd signed a new four-year contract with United at the beginning of the season.

"I think Brian Kidd is a Manchester United person through and through. He played for us and has been a great servant to this club," Edwards added.

Blackburn parted company with former manager Roy Hodgson following last weekend's home defeat by Southampton. Tony Parkes has taken charge in a caretaker capacity but does not want to be considered for the job on a permanent basis.