Bristol City are aiming to make a swift appointment following the departure of head coach Liam Manning yesterday.
The Robins have just come off the back of a fantastic season. Manning took over the club in November 2023, but his first full season in charge at Ashton Gate saw him guide the club into the Championship play-offs for the first time since 2008.
Although they suffered a resounding 6-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Sheffield United in the semi final, the campaign was still a resounding success. It was hoped that the 39-year-old would be able to build on that momentum, but a twist of fate saw City dealt a severe blow.
Division rivals Norwich City came calling, taking the former Oxford United boss to Carrow Road to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup, who departed the Canaries in April. The news was confirmed yesterday, leaving the club in search for a replacement of their own.
Edwards Closing In On Return To Management
According to Stroud Times, ex-Luton Town manager Rob Edwards is set to be named as Manning’s successor. The 42-year-old has been out of work since leaving the Hatters in January with the club staring down the barrel of a second successive relegation.
Despite that, the ex-Watford boss still possesses a good reputation within the game, having taken Luton to the Premier League. Although they dropped out of the top tier at the first time of asking, they were widely praised for their attacking and entertaining performances.
Former Forest Green boss Rob Edwards on brink of Bristol City job #BristolCityjob #ForestGreen #RobEdwardshttps://t.co/0DB9doNyIz
— Stroud Times (@StroudTimes) June 3, 2025
This past season was a concerning one though. The Bedfordshire-based side were one of the favourites for promotion prior to the start of the campaign. They never got going and by the time Matt Bloomfield came in in January, the writing was already on the wall.
Writer’s View
Rob Edwards has been linked with a number of roles over the past few weeks and it’s no surprise that somebody has eventually swooped to snap him up. Manning has left him a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship and it will only take a few tweaks to see them maintain the momentum they built last season. Still, he will be expected to hit the ground running. This is a fantastic opportunity for the former Welsh international to prove he can still cut it at Championship level.
