FLW have taken a look at some alternative options Birmingham should consider if a move for Alex Neil fails to materialise.
Birmingham City were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1995 but will be hopeful of bouncing back up to the Championship at the first time of asking if they can appoint the right man in the dugout.
They have yet to find a new manager for the 2024/25 season. However, under new ownership, the Blues have certainly shown ambition and the first shoots of a potential start of an exciting new dawn had begun to spring last year, but relegation has undone some of the good work in the summer, with managerial appointments a particular issue.
Relegation is hoped to be just a small setback in the club’s current situation. Those involved with the club will hope that this is just an early blip in an otherwise promising new era for the club. However, they will need to get it right this time after the diaster of Wayne Rooney from John Eustace’s strong early start.
Nothing has since progressed after those initial reports linking Neil with the role, and talks may well have stalled. With that in mind, here we have taken a look at three alternative options for Blues to consider in the meantime.
1Mike Williamson
Mike Williamson is one of the hottest young managers in the EFL right now, having masterminded MK Dons’ run into the League Two play-offs at the back end of the season.
Having joined from Gateshead – after catching the eye in the National League – when the club were in the bottom half of the table, the former Newcastle United defender turned fortunes around to see them finish fourth in the fourth tier.
2Richie Wellens
The job Richie Wellens has done at Leyton Orient has been incredibly impressive. Orient play an effective and functional brand of football and have put in some exceptional performances in the past year, despite the fact they are reasonably new to the third tier.
Already having promotions on his CV from his time at Orient and Swindon Town, he would be a very shrewd appointment for a number of sides at the top end of League One or even at Championship level.
3Leam Richardson
Richardson is a manager who has previous experience in League One, having guided Wigan Athletic to a title-winning campaign in his first managerial role. The former Wigan boss worked at the club at a time when finances and the uncertainty of whether they would remain a football club existed.
He managed to put together a team that was hungry and determined to gain promotion back to the Championship. In many people’s eyes, he was harshly sacked at Wigan, a decision you would think the Latics hierarchy may regret making.
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