Birmingham City sack their manager with immediate effect

Birmingham City have chosen to sack their manager Aitor Karanka according to reports emerging on Sunday afternoon as the dismal form goes on.

The 47-year-old was only appointed at St Andrew’s in July of 2020 but recent results have seen his position at the club come under intense scrutiny with the decision made after their 3-0 defeat to Bristol City.

There are also claims that Birmingham will not issue a statement until Monday, but are looking at bringing in a replacement quicker than expected.

Karanka was adament in his post-match press conference after the defeat, and when questioned about his potential resignation he responded: “No chance.”

He leaves the Blues just three points above the relegation zone with 10 games remaining in the Championship.

The West Midlands side have won just two of their last 12 league games, one of which was a 1-0 victory over a Sheffield Wednesday side who were down to 10-men.

Karanka won just eight of his 38 games in charge of Birmingham City, at a points-per-game average of 0.92. A very disappointing spell.

It was his third job in management, having enjoyed a four-year spell at Middlesbrough while also enduring a 12-month spell at Nottingham Forest.

At Boro, the Spanish manager earned himself great success and led the club back to the Premier League in the 2015-16 season.

The Blues have a horrid run of fixtures over the next six weeks and face four of the Championship’s top-five sides as they continue to battle in avoiding relegation, something the fans have become used to in the last few years.

The Blues host Reading on Wednesday night, before games against Watford, Swansea and Brentford.

Fans reacted as Birmingham City sack their manager with immediate effect…

@dan_AVFC88: If the Blues’ owners have any sense they will go all out for Chris Wilder

@MRMAXBRADLEY_: Our owners don’t have sense that’s the problem

@BcfcMichael: Now please tell me Dong has gone.

@bedfordblue: I really wanted this to work out for us, but we have been drifting since Christmas. Should have been let go weeks ago, out 10 game season starts Wednesday

@Manterik: Solves nothing, @karanka was not the problem at the club. He’s a quality manager in a dire situation. I tagged him to wish him well for the future.

@RyanDeeney2194: Such a strange situation & difficult to explain. Aitor Karanka has to leave. However, he’s not the sole reason we’re a shambles and I have no faith that things will improve because he’s gone. Lord knows what we’re in for now. But he had to go. #BCFC

@vivacb2: New #bcfc CEO
– promote and strengthen academy
– fix the stadium
– stay out of player recruitment
– support the womens team
– no ‘styles of play’, only winning football

@IMRMEZZI: For me nailed on it will be Pulis, motivator and loves to shithouse his way in this league, not saying it would be my choice but to me I can see them going that way #bcfc

@HollyTurbill: Too bloody late

@TP0wen: This feels a bit weird. Relief is my overriding emotion at the moment. But not feeling any more optimistic or upbeat. Structural change is required at this club if they are to really push on. The buck doesn’t just stop with Karanka.

@CallumTxylor: We can also all celebrate Karanka going as much/little as you want but some of these players will be on their 6TH PERMANENT MANAGER, some even more. If you truly believe this is just Karanka you’re severely severely wrong – we go nowhere but down with this squad.

@davidtjackson: And the @XuandongRen sponsored managerial merry-go-round continues. Rowett > Zola > Redknapp > Cotterill > Monk > Clotet > Karanka > …

@mikejen87: Sacked Rowett. Appointed Zola. Let Redknapp spend loads of cash on players like Harlee Dean and Jota. Appointed Cotterill. Sacked Monk. Appointed Pep. Appointed Karanka. Got rid of the academy, brought the women’s team down . Anything positive you’ve done @XuandongRen? #bcfc

@bobbyjones007: Good riddance. Absolute shocker of a manager…

@everythingbcfc: Looks like Karanka and Blues’ time has come to an end then. A real shame it didn’t work out as I thought he’d be a good fit. But poor recruitment (yet again) and his strange in game management has cost him. Never really found a settled side either. #bcfc

@KaneGStyles: Was really excited when we got Karanka. No hard feelings. It hasn’t worked and he’s not the right fit. Difficult circumstances and half the crop haven’t helped him. We will mess this appointment up no doubt, unless Dong has fucked off.

@T10WS: #bcfc Makes me sad to think that someone has lost their job. Wouldn’t wish this on anyone BUT….. in football you get a nice payoff so not always as bad as the rest of us. Had high hopes for us with AK but it just hasn’t worked. Good Luck AK. Come on Ren, let’s get this one

@mxnnisxngh: With the next manager. We have to consider league 1 because it’s a massive possibility. Hope the right decision is made. Bout time us fans had something good #bcfc

@TheGJRichards: Pulis wouldn’t be my ideal choice, but he’s had over 1, 100 games in charge as a Manager with a 36% win ratio. He’s not too great, but it’s not too shabby either. Can’t be judged on one 10-game spell of Sheffield Weds when he’s done solid jobs elsewhere. #BCFC #KRO

@Bluenose_Andy: Do hope so. The worry now would be who’s replacing him. Won’t have anyone lined up so it may suggest it’s Craig Gardner short-term.

@birch1875: Shame that things didn’t go as planned a few good games but was never enough think we have to find someone before Wednesday but who would come

@BcfcLegion: Our problems lay deeper than the managers, or players. Mismanagement can be seen at every level of our club. The problem is Dong, & others who have let Dong keep his job for so long. This is not just about an incompetent individual, but an incompetent leadership.

@joshmac90: If AK has gone then this is a big appointment. I don’t want a Pulis style quick fix. I’d like us to look for someone with a plan who can potentially manage us in league 1. Michael Duff at Cheltenham would be worth a look. More than willing to give someone like that a chance #bcfc

@Waltonnn_5: Atleast he won’t play a system that don’t work on repeat, crush the players confidence constantly and cost us a fortune

@Alanfrancis2812: Too late to save the season, should have happened at least two months ago. CEO culpable.

Footage of Blues players in the summer moving to other championship clubs on the cheap after relegating us #bcfc pic.twitter.com/ABaM1RFN0b

— Dave Sherlock (@DaveSherlock3) March 14, 2021

We can dream😂 #BCFC pic.twitter.com/6o2tk1qFHk

— Blues Focus (@BluesFocus) March 14, 2021

Me when I find out that Karanka has been sacked, but then Tony Pulis and Craig Gardner have been named as replacements #BCFC pic.twitter.com/rjOKRZtwmM

— James (@JamesRichmond17) March 14, 2021

Some of the names being mentioned though!!!!! #bcfc pic.twitter.com/xR4IS7wjmL

— Neil (@Rowley68) March 14, 2021

Losing all interest sacking
and hope in #bcfc karanka pic.twitter.com/nOHTvxzZGn

— Jamie (@jamiebcfc7) March 14, 2021