The manager merry-go-round is getting quite full in the EFL but one boss has managed to jump off and find a new home. Tony Mowbray has been described as the “standout candidate” for Birmingham City.
After the failure of the last appointment, Wayne Rooney, this appointment will likely be met with approval from the majority of The Blues fanbase. A solid and dependable manager at this level. Mowbray will look to turn the form around quickly and repair the damage done by the former Manchester United legend.
Just six days after Rooney was dismissed, Mowbray, who was also controversially let go by his former employers Sunderland, has been rewarded with a two-and-a-half-year deal. With just two wins from his 15 in charge, Rooney had turned Birmingham from playoff contenders to relegation fodder.
City co-owner Tom Wagner said “Tony was the standout candidate in our search for a new manager. His knowledge of and passion for the game shone through.
“He shares our ambition and will bring stability at an important time for our great club. We received extremely positive feedback from everyone we spoke to about Tony.”
These were similar sentiments to when the Rooney appointment was made, so hopefully this time around there is more meaning behind them.
The BBC website reported the new boss at St. Andrews as saying. “I can’t wait to get back on the training pitch and start working with this talented group of players. My focus is on building their confidence, delivering results, and giving Blues fans a team they can be excited by and proud of.
“I know from personal experience how passionate Bluenoses are, home and away, and I’m looking forward to having their full support for the team starting on Saturday at home to Swansea.”
Writer’s View
This is the 13th managerial appointment at Birmingham City in the same number of years. It will surely have to be the last switch in the dugout for a while as the team will need stability. There can be no doubt about the ambitions of the club under its new ownership model, but they will have to rely on Mowbray to navigate the team onto a more even path in the immediate future.
Going for a safe option, as opposed to a “big” flashy name will set well with most. However with a limited budget this month, he will have to get the best out of his current squad and then Mowbray can assess in the summer just what he needs from his new bosses.
