Birmingham City appear to be closing in on their next manager.
Birmingham City only sacked Wayne Rooney this week. But already the club seems to be closing in on their next boss with several names being closely linked.
An emerging update from journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that the club’s hierarchy has narrowed down their managerial shortlist to three names.
Tony Mowbray, Paul Heckingbottom, and Jesse Marsh the final candidates for Birmingham City
Earlier today, Nixon revealed on his Patreon that Blues are ‘down to a final three for their managerial vacancy’ and that the club’s CEO Garry Cook is set to meet with them shortly.
Nixon says that Tony Mowbray, Paul Heckingbottom, and Jesse Marsch are among the names being considered, but that former Leeds United boss Marsch would be a ‘left field move’.
Nixon also adds that Mowbray is willing to make a hasty return to management following his Sunderland sacking last month; Heckingbottom was also sacked last month, leaving Sheffield United after more than two years in charge.
Mowbray the frontrunner to become next Birmingham City manager
And today, journalist John Percy has also revealed that axed Sunderland boss Mowbray is emerging as a ‘very strong contender’ for the job alongside former Blues manager Gary Rowett, suggesting that Mowbray is, at this moment in the time, the frontrunner to take over at St Andrew’s.
Mowbray an obvious candidate, but a huge upgrade on Wayne Rooney
Given Mowbray’s recent excellent showing at Sunderland where he guided the club to a 6th place finish last season, and had the club in 6th upon his sacking last month, he seems like a very strong candidate to take over.
He’s vastly experienced in the Championship and his Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers sides in particular played some very attacking and daring football which appears to be what the board wants following their ‘no fear football’ admission after hiring Rooney.
And it seems like the club has been looking for Rooney’s successor for a while now given the speed at which the managerial hunt appears to be moving.
Bringing in somebody this week would be ideal for the club and for the new boss as they’d have a bit of time to asses the side and figure out which positions they’d want to bolster in this month’s window.
Mowbray didn’t have a huge say in transfers at Sunderland with Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman largely overseeing matters; whether it’d be different at Birmingham City remains to be seen, as does whether or not Mowbray remains a manager with an eye for transfers.
But he’s certainly a good coach with great experience, which in Birmingham City’s current position seems vital.