Bristol City have received a huge boost in their quest to keep head coach Liam Manning after reports emerged that potential suitors Leicester City are set to appoint Russell Martin.
The 39-year-old has rose to prominence over the last few years. He guided MK Dons to a third placed finish in League One before a short stint at Oxford United produced equally impressive results.
This saw him catch the attention of Championship outfit Bristol City in November 2023, where he was brought in to replace Nigel Pearson. This season has been a particularly successful one. He guided the Robins into the play-offs, although they suffered a 6-0 aggregate defeat against Sheffield United to exit at the semi-final stage.
Leicester Interest Wanes
Manning’s stellar job at Ashton Gate led to rumours earlier this month that he was being lined up by Leicester City. The Foxes will return to the second tier next season after suffering relegation from the Premier League, with it long claimed that Ruud van Nistelrooy will exit at the end of the season.
The Dutchman was only appointed in November but has managed to pick up just four league wins in his tenure. As a result, talkSPORT claimed that the Bristol City boss had emerged as the frontrunner to head to the King Power Stadium.
According to The Daily Mail though, former Southampton and Swansea City manager Russell Martin will be the man to succeed van Nistelrooy. It is said that the decision has been made to part ways with the ex-Manchester United striker and have held a number of conversations with the 39-year-old.
Martin already has bags of Championship experience, winning promotion from the division as recent as last season with the Saints. As a result, his appointment is set to be announced ‘imminently’, perhaps after Leicester’s final game against Bournemouth.
Writer’s View
This will be welcome news to Bristol City supporters. Manning is a coach who appears destined to move onto a bigger job at some point and the fear was that Leicester would be viewed as that opportunity. However, that ship looks to have sailed. He is still linked with the vacant position at Norwich City, although it’s questionable as to whether that would be a step up at this point. There may still be plenty of rumours over the summer but unless he is chased by a club in the Premier League or one that is expected to challenge for the Championship title, he may well stay put at Ashton Gate.
