It’s that time to take a look at an updated look at the top six favourites for Birmingham manager as Pep Clotet quits following yet another defeat.
The Blues boss has left the club, who are in a relegation battle, after Wednesday night’s 3-1 defeat by playoff chasing Swansea City.
He had been set to leave the Championship side at the end of the season but said it was “mutually agreed” he would step down now.
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Pep leaves Birmingham having not won in 10 league matches and are 17th in the table, four points above the drop zone. The picked up just two points out of a possible 15 since the season restarted after lockdown.
Clotet’s exit sees the club 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).
So who are favourites to take over at St Andrew’s Stadium?
6) CHRIS HUGHTON
He has been out of work for 14 months having been sacked by Brighton & Hove Albion after just about managing to keep them up last season.
Just weeks ago he was made the favourite for the vacancy at Birmingham though his odds have dropped away since as he claims interest in another club.
Hughton had his contract terminated by the Seagulls – the team he won came Championship runners up with in 2017 despite avoiding the drop from the Premier League.
However he won just three of their last 23 league games and none of their final nine.
He has also managed Norwich City, Birmingham and Newcastle (won the Championship with in 2010).
In October 2019, Hughton turned down replacing Nathan Jones as manager Stoke City.
He also said: “I do want to get back in at the highest level that I can but I’m using my time out well and very much making the most of it.
“I’m in the fortunate position, I’m not a first time manager or second time manager that is worried about where the next job is coming from and it’s a very precarious profession that we’re in.
“So, I’m all through all of that. I supposed I would be seen as a more experienced manager now, so I think that takes a little bit of pressure off.”
He seemed adamant that he was good enough to manage a club in the Premier League again, however, now a change of heart sees Hughton wanting to take up the perfect challenge in guiding Bristol City to promotion, though that has yet to be announced.
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 7/1
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5) CRAIG GARDNER
The Blues player was initially installed as the early favourite to be named as next manager of the club, four weeks ago.
The ex-Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Brom midfielder is set to retire at the end of the season to become a coach, however after hearing the news, fans weren’t happy think that he could be Birmingham’s replacement.
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 7/1
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4) NIGEL CLOUGH
Fourth in the top six favourites for Birmingham manager is Nigel Clough, who is an experienced boss who last month left his position as manager of Burton Albion.
He is looking to get back into the dugout, however has already expressed an interest at going back to a Championship club… one of which could be Birmingham after having held talks with this recently.
The 54 year old also knows how to work on a tight budget, however, he couldn’t go on at the Brewers as they had to adjust to the financial uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.
Some of his best honours includes League One promotion with Burton in 2015–16, as well as becoming an EFL Cup Semi Finalist with Burton in 2018-19 and also took Sheffield United to the same stage but of the FA Cup in 2014-15, before parting company in May 2015.
CLOUGH’S MANAGERIAL STATS:
Burton Albion – October 1998 until January 2009
Derby County – 8 January 2009 until 28 September 2013 – 233 games, 78, wins, 54 draws, 101 defeats, 33.5 % won
Sheffield United – 23 October 2013 until 25 May 2015 – 104 games, 49 wins, 30 draws, 25 defeats, 47.1 % won
Burton Albion – 7 December 2015 until 18 May 2020 – 228 games, 78 wins, 57 draws, 93 defeats, 34.2 % won
Total – 565 games, 205 wins, 141 draws, 219 defeats, 36.3 % won
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 5/1
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3) LEE CARSLEY
Carsley is currently specialist national coach for England U21.
Clubs he previously managed were Brentford, but has been either assistant or caretaker at Coventry City, Sheffield United, Manchester City Academy, and Birmingham City.
He’s also played for Derby, Blackburn, Coventry, Everton and Birmingham as well as make 40 appearances for Ireland.
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 5/1
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2) LEE BOWYER
Second in the top six favourites for Birmingham manager is Lee Boywer, who’s currently at Championship strugglers Charlton Athletic, sitting 22nd in the table.
He has been with the Addicks since being appointing in March 2018, and then guided the club to promotion after winning the League One playoffs against Sunderland.
On 17 June 2019, Bowyer turned down the offer of a contract extension, with the club (and owner Roland Duchatelet) announcing that Bowyer and the club were unable to reach an agreement.However, he later reversed his decision by signing a new year-long deal.
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 7/2
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1) ROBBIE FOWLER
Robbie Fowler is currently out of work having departed from Australian side Brisbane Roar late June 2020.
The Liverpool legend has recently stated that he’s keen on managing Birmingham City with the vacancy up for grabs, though any English club for the ex-footballer would be of interest to him.
Fowler played in the A-League for the North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory at the end of his playing career, having already played for Blackburn, Cardiff, Man City, Leeds and of course Liverpool.
He joined Brisbane Roar as head coach on a two-year contract in April 2019, finished the previous season second from bottom but he guided the club into fourth place in the 11-team A-League table, with 10 wins from 22 games, when the league was suspended.
He returned home to England due to the coronavirus pandemic as he didn’t want to be separated with him family during a tough time like this.
Robbie has also managed Muangthong United, another former club of his, but that spell in charge only lasted 13 games.
HIS MANAGERIAL STATS:
Muangthong United – 1 Oct 2011 until 31 Jan 2012 – 13 games, 4 wins, 4 draws, 5 defeats – 30.77 win %
Brisbane Roar – 23 Apr 2019 until 29 Jun 2020 – 21 games, 8 wins, 5 draws, 8 defeats – 38.10 win %
Total – 34 games, 12 wins, 9 draws, 13 defeats – 35.29 % win
Current odds according to Sky Bet: 3/1
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Other managers linked for the Birmingham job are Steven Gerrard (7/1), Mick McCarthy (10/1), Mark Robins (12/1), Danny Buijs (14/1), Lee Johnson (14/1) and Slavisa Jokanovic (14/1).
Top six favourites for Birmingham manager, who do you think should take over? Let us know by commenting!
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