Birmingham hold initial talks with ex-Hamilton, Norwich, Preston, Sunderland, Stoke manager

Birmingham City hold initial talks with ex-Hamilton, Norwich, Preston, Sunderland, Stoke manager Alex Neil, according to John Percy.

Tony Mowbray, 60, permanently resigned as manager of the relegated Championship club so that he could focus on his health.

He had been on sick leave since February, but he has now informed the Blues he would stand down with immediate effect so that it eases the Blues’ rebuilding plans as they prepare for life in League One.

He tweeted on Wednesday (22nd May): “Birmingham City have held initial talks with Alex Neil, after Tony Mowbray stepped down.

“Former Stoke manager regarded as a good option after promotions with Norwich, Sunderland & Hamilton. Appointment process still ongoing #bcfc #kro”

Meanwhile, Alan Nixon claims Paul Heckingbottom is in the frame.

Birmingham City have held initial talks with Alex Neil over the vacant manager’s job.

(Via: @JPercyTelegraph)#BCFC pic.twitter.com/VVzoi1GQRz

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) May 22, 2024

Birmingham City have held initial talks with Alex Neil, after Tony Mowbray stepped down. Former Stoke manager regarded as a good option after promotions with Norwich, Sunderland & Hamilton. Appointment process still ongoing #bcfc #kro

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) May 22, 2024

Hecky in Birmingham frame https://t.co/q9tNiBnoSQ

— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) May 23, 2024

Alex Neil took on the role of player-manager for Hamilton in 2013 and successfully guided them to promotion to the Scottish Premiership in 2014.

In January 2015, he was named the manager of Norwich City, becoming the second youngest manager in the EFL at that time.

Under Neil’s leadership, Norwich achieved promotion to the Premier League by winning the 2015 Championship playoff final.

However, they faced relegation in the following season and Neil was ultimately dismissed in March 2017. On the 4th of July 2017, he was appointed as the manager of Preston, leading the team to a commendable seventh place finish in the 2017-18 season of the Championship.

On the 11th of February 2022, Neil took on the role of manager for Sunderland. He successfully guided them to promotion from League One to the Championship, securing a 2-0 victory in the play-off final.

However, he later left Sunderland to become the manager of Stoke City later that year after the dismissal of Michael O’Neill.

Stoke ended the 2022–23 season in 16th place. But in December 2023, Neil was sacked following a 1–0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday. Stoke were 20th in the table at the time of his departure.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW BIRMINGHAM MANAGER

(According to OLBG, 21st May)
Gary Rowett – 1/2
Liam Rosenior – 2/1
Ian Evatt – 5/2
Alex Neil – 5/2
Darren Ferguson – 4/1
Frank Lampard – 5/1
David Wagner – 6/1
Anthony Barry – 13/2
Paul Heckingbottom – 7/1
Chris Hughton – 8/1
Lee Carsley – 10/1
Steve Bruce – 14/1

This is what Twitter users are saying as Birmingham hold initial talks with ex-Hamilton, Norwich, Preston, Sunderland, Stoke manager Alex Neil…

@Darren081273: Let’s hope it’s just “due dilligence” because he left Preston 16th in the Champ and Stoke in the same position. Hardly seems like a manager who can make the most of a bad job.

@stokie108: Great choice! Those yanks know their stuff 😂😂😂😂

@Jak_Collier: Think he’d get us up but unsure if he’d take us beyond that long-term. Hoping for other names to come to fruition especially as this has to be a massive appointment long term for the club really #bcfc

@AvfcLuka: Bring back Rooney

@JamesG121212: 🤣 don’t think even i would sign for them with him as the manager

@RobbieM1966: Not a fan of – no thank you

@lucaswhisss: Good luck 😂😂😂

@bluenose2811: Please no

@RonanKenny6: Surely not

@DrNeilJMurray: Hmmm, surprised and wouldn’t be convinced at all if he was appointed, not a fan of him personally, doesn’t seem to play the football the owners are after either.

@mickwest69: Good luck with that… useless

@jackbcfc_: All for it

@tod1877: horrible person so will fit in seamlessly

@Con1996_Smith: 😂 but I thought Potter was gonna go there for the project?

@allthingspne: Possible Neil to Birmingham! Great move for all parties.

@RhysBCFC: We could do worse

@LeeAHinton95: Uninspiring, but I’d be confident he’d get us promoted. Not the person I want though. #bcfc

@Jack_Sharp10: This bloke hangs around like a bad smell when it comes to blues needing a manager. Decent record, but it’s a no from me. Need to think longer term. #bcfc

@Lee180cosky: I feel sorry for you blues fans, I really do.

@OliverH1875: Would rather challinor but hey ho

@RokerReport: Birmingham just want to be us

@KroB91875: Let’s be real here apart from Stoke, where everyone fails, he’s done well. #bcfc

@RyanC2408: Crazy how Birmingham fans don’t want him he will easily get them out of that league, think they are forgetting they are in league one 🤣

@LeeW1875: No thanks. Can’t stand the bloke. Want someone to progress us not just help us out of league one. He’s proved how he’s not capable in the championship with Preston, Sunderland and Stoke. Mid table….

@jackowenn8: Not the most exciting name but would definitely get us up there

@steveoo242: and thats how you kill any excitement I had for next season

@Kieranbcfc2: Please can everyone remember this is just an interview and they’ll be multiple sets of talks just like the Mowbray appointment. Not sure he’d be my choice but glad we’re doing our due diligence into him. #bcfc

@Jon_1875: He’s not my first choice but I do think he’d get us back up so don’t think it’s the worst option. Not sure about long term though

@joshmontage656: You’re not gonna get many better at that level really

@gavin_poulton: Glorious 🤣

@Trentvilla1: Not the worst pick, its almost sensible even, but its certainly not the best candidate out there and he isn’t exactly going to build a team playing the football they claimed to want. Needs must I guess, will mean another rebuild once back in Champ though.

@Nathanmatthies3: Long old summer continues

@BrownSlices: Looking forward to them hiring Michael Beale in 2025

@BluSabre: Meh, really not an inspiring choice. This is the the time for a real reset and this does not scream progressive appointment to me at all.

@1875j: takes us up

@Dankendal93: Alex Neil having to drop down to a big League 1 club again to build his reputation back up for him to leave and join Sheffield United the season after for him to be sacked guiding them to a solid 14th in the league.

@Darren081273:
Left Preston when 16th
Left Stoke when 16th
No thanks.

@TonyJohn1947: Looking at his record, no thanks. I’ll pass and I hope for GC’s sake he does too

@Gary06634239: Wouldn’t be my first choice to be honest

@jord996: Considering everyone else who doesn’t support us is saying how bad this will be says a lot 😬😬

@harrisonbcfc_: no

@BXN434: God no please no

@jameswilkes00: Isn’t the most exciting appointment but I think he’d get us up, we could do worse

@bedfordblue: god no

@kro1875stu: God noòoooooo!

@Baribandgeek: No!

@ThomasSpurgeon9: No

@Stephen18706681: NO TA

@PhilB2805: Not only is his record crap, he has the personality of a painting.. No thanks

@Scott37818361: Fucking no

@swifty_bcfc: Would half take it if its on a 2 year or 1 year rolling contract

@DominicR26: Very meh ennit. Could be worse but not remotely exciting

@ryaneaton93: I think he’s a good manager but not sure he’s ideal long term. He’d jump ship at the sniff of a better job #bcfc