Birmingham City manager John Eustace has claimed he is not interested in any other job amid speculation that Rangers have identified the 43-year-old as a potential replacement for Michael Beale.
The Scottish giants are said to be considering making a managerial change after just four league games following a poor start to the season. Rangers have already tasted defeat twice following their opening day reverse against Kilmarnock before losing to bitter rivals Celtic shortly before the international break. They also exited the Champions League in the play-off round against Eredivsie outfit PSV Eindhoven.
In contrast, Birmingham are enjoying a fantastic start to the campaign and are one of two sides – alongside early leaders Preston North End – yet to taste defeat.
This has put Eustace on the radar of the 2022 Europa League finalists and there were rumours that they were ready to select a new manager during the recent break. However, it looks as if Beale has bought some time as they prepare to face St Johnstone on Saturday.
In reply, the West Midlands club have also started making a shortlist of their own should Eustace be tempted in a move north of the border, and rumours that Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney topped the list surfaced last week. However, Birmingham’s fears looked to have eased, with the former Watford midfielder committing his future to the club.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Watford this weekend, Eustace said;
“It’s all speculation. I am not interested in any other job than Birmingham City. I am very, very happy here. I came here 14 months ago now and I signed a three-year deal to try and help rebuild this fantastic football club and get it back where it should be.
“We are coming up to half way in doing that. I think there has been fantastic progress in the last 14 or 15 months and I want to continue with that progress and see this club fly.
“It’s my job to worry about the club. That’s all I care about. I don’t look at social media, I don’t look at the press. All I can concentrate on and control is what I do on the training field with the players, and that’s all I concentrate on.
“There’s been some ups and downs in the 14 months that I’ve been here but I think everyone can see that we are going in the right direction. I want to be here for as long as the club want me.”
Continuing specifically about the links to Rangers, the former QPR coach said;
“Rangers have got a fantastic manager already there. That’s not a job that interests me at all. I am very proud and honoured to be the Birmingham City manager and I want to help grow this football club for as long as I can.”
Writer’s View
It’s easy to see why John Eustace is fully invested in the project at Birmingham City. He’s a local lad that looks to be in the right place at the right time following the recent US investment into the club.
The long-term ambition will be a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2011 and Eustace will want to be the man to deliver that. Confidence is high at the moment and the aim will be to get something out of their clash with Watford at the weekend before they travel to table-toppers Preston North End next Tuesday.
