Manager named as new favourite for the Birmingham job

There’s a new favourite for the Birmingham City job with one bookmaker, Sky Bet, now offering odds of 2/1.

Pep Clotet will leave the Championship club at the end of the 2019/20 season to “explore other coaching opportunities”. The Blue’s are currently 16th in the Championship, with the season expected to resume on the 20th of June. 

Clotet’s exit will see Birmingham looking for a sixth manager in just three and a half years, previously losing Gary Rowett (December 2016), Gianfranco Zola (four months), Harry Redknapp (five months), Steve Cotterill (five months), Monk (15 months) and now Clotet (12 months).

That man now tipped for the Birmingham City hot seat is former Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, who just yesterday was at 10/1 to take over the reigns at St Andrew’s. Warnock has been out of a job since he departed Cardiff City seven months ago.

He has taken charge of 1488 games during a 40-year managerial career, and he wants to reach the 1,500 milestone, however two days ago, he said chances are looking slim.

“It would be a great achievement to get to 1,500 but I can’t see it happening unless it is the end of the season somewhere and someone asks me to help them out,” Warnock told the BBC’s Friday Football Social.

“I have really enjoyed what I have been doing and it is just nice to wake up and not have the problems with 25 kids – it is like looking after 25 kids in management!”

Former Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock to eclipse ex-Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup for Birmingham City job #Swans #CCFC #Bluebirds #BCFC https://t.co/TqaQ7n4F4A

— Swansea City Online (@SwanseaCityLive) June 10, 2020

HIS MANAGERIAL CAREER:
1980–1981 – Gainsborough Trinity
1981–1986 – Burton Albion
1986–1989 – Scarborough
1989–1993 – Notts County
1993 – Torquay United
1993–1995 – Huddersfield Town
1995–1997 – Plymouth Argyle
1997–1998 – Oldham Athletic
1998–1999 – Bury
1999–2007 – Sheffield United
2007–2010 – Crystal Palace
2010–2012 – Queens Park Rangers
2012–2013 – Leeds United
2014 – Crystal Palace
2015 – Queens Park Rangers (caretaker)
2016 – Rotherham United
2016–2019 – Cardiff City

HONOURS:
Scarborough – Football Conference champions, 1986–87
Notts County – FL Third Division Play-off winners, 1989–90
Notts County – FL Second Division Play-off winners, 1990–91
Huddersfield – FL Second Division Play-off winners, 1994–95
Plymouth – FL Third Division Play-off winners, 1995–96
Sheffield United – FL Championship runners-up, 2005–06
QPR – FL Championship winners, 2010–11
Cardiff – FL Championship runners-up, 2017–18
Huddersfield – Yorkshire Electricity Cup winners, 1994–95

Blues fans reacted on social media after seeing the manager named as new favourite for the Birmingham job…

@elwell_alan: If that’s the case warnock is coming I know he’s had 8 promotions but he’s also had 8  sackings or resignations as well so  it will only be quick fix surely blues need stability

@SamPhillips40: Can’t see why people wouldn’t be happy with Warnock forget his style of football he gets teams promoted, it’s what he’s known for! #BCFC

@RichardTonry: Might be alone but I wouldn’t want Neil Warnock as our next manager, yes very experienced and has done well in the past, I just don’t think he would offer us much stability, at 71 he is coming to the end of the road we want someone to kro! Lee bowyer for me

@bcfcjames: Slowly warming to the idea of Warnock.  The man has got teams promoted 8 times he knows how to get it done

@PapaulskiBCFC: He’s definitely a Blues manager lol

@Duffers100: Can’t believe the amount of #bcfc fans that want to appoint Warnock…

@CraigyMilner: Wouldn’t mind Warnock taking over, but it doesn’t sound like a long term plan. Need a manager who will be around for a while to start things again. Warnock would just be another year attempt at promotion and that didnt go well this year did it

@GazBigcockBCFC: If it’s Neil warnock I will literally rip my eyes out. Dinosaur.

@Liam3617: Am i the only #bcfc fan who would take Neil Warnock?

@TheGJRichards: I think there’s more chance we’ll end up with Warnock than someone like Hughton. Think we need to be realistic. Hughton has said recently he wants to get a Premier League job. I can’t see him being tempted by the Championship at all.

@jackdiston: Be class if Dong is putting out the red carpet for Neil Warnock. Bookies favourite at the moment!

@HuntBcfc5: I’d love it but hate it if Warnock was appointed

Darrell Arnold: To win games, climb the table and challenge then Warnock is your man. For more of the same then the pick any of the others.

Darren Beard: Won’t be the style of football we are told they want us to play .How soon does the next season start after this one as don’t want another wasted season we’ve only had one good one since we got relegated from premier league when we looked like challenging and that was the first season down basically we’ve had nearly 10 years of upheaval and shooting ourselves in the foot