Birmingham City were dealt a big managerial curveball earlier this week.
On Monday morning, it was announced that Tony Mowbray would be stepping back from his role with the club for a period.
The 60-year-old is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks of Blues action, as he undergoes medical treatment.
Since his appointment last month, Mowbray has taken ten points from six games as Birmingham City manager.
As a result, his presence at St Andrew’s could well be missed. In his absence, Mowbray’s assistant Mark Venus is due to take charge of first-team affairs at the club.
Now it seems as though there is some confidence he will be able to maintain the momentum built under the 60-year-old before he stepped back.
Not much expected to change under Mark Venus
Of course, Venus is someone who Mowbray has a great deal of trust in. He has also been assistant to Mowbray at clubs such as Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland before linking up with him at Birmingham City.
With Venus now stepping up to take on the main role for the time being, he is set to come in for more attention.
Speaking on the Keep Right On podcast, Midlands football reporter Brian Dick was keen to point out that Mowbray had described Venus as a ‘genius’ in his first Birmingham City press conference.
Discussing what they might mean for Blues while is in charge, he added: “I don’t think necessarily we’re going to be getting rhyming couplets or after-dinner speeches from Venus in the press conferences.
“But there’s no reason to think that that competency and that genius streak – if you want to call it that – that Venus has, there’s no reason to believe that will disappear.
“He’ll still be putting together the Blues gameplan. I suppose uncomfortably for him he might be the one with the camera in his face before and after games.
“But in terms of the preparation, hopefully there won’t be too much different there, and I guess what everyone will miss in this short period will be Mowbray’s personality.”
Venus’ first game in charge of Birmingham City comes on Saturday afternoon, when they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town.
Mark Venus stepping in is sensible for Birmingham City
It does seem to make sense for Venus to simply step in for Mowbray over the next few weeks.
Since the manager is not departing permanently, it would not seem worth it to find one for an interim period.
Not only could that take time, they may also want to implement their own tactics on the team. That would lead to a great deal of change for the Birmingham City squad, especially once Mowbray returns.
Venus though, knows ecactly how Mowbray wants his teams to play, so this should allow for as much stability as possible at St Andrew’s in his absence.
Indeed, given how well they have played under him, there is little reason for Birmingham City to step away from his tactics either.
This therefore, feels like the right approach for Blues to take, as they wait for what will be a very welcome return for Mowbray.