Birmingham City have reportedly identified former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O’Neil as the successor to Chris Davies should he face the sack.
The 42-year-old has been out of work since being sacked from the Blues’ Midlands rivals in December last year.
A Ultimatum
Birmingham City head coach Chris Davies is under mounting pressure as the Championship season reaches its midpoint. After 11 matches, the Blues occupy 13th place with 15 points,trailing leaders Coventry City by a daunting 10 points and sitting just four points above the relegation zone.
A hard-fought 1-0 home win against Preston North End on Tuesday offered temporary relief, ending a run of one victory in six across all competitions. However, persistent defensive frailties, particularly from set pieces—combined with a lacklustre attack that has managed only 11 goals, have heightened anxiety among supporters. The team’s expected goals stats differential ranks mid-table, underscoring inefficiencies at both ends despite significant investment.
Insiders indicate Davies has a critical two-week window, encompassing fixtures against Bristol City, Portsmouth, Millwall, and Middlesbrough, to demonstrate tangible progress before the mid-November international break. Failure to secure at least seven points from these matches could precipitate an early dismissal.
The scrutiny is intensified by owner Tom Wagner’s hands-on involvement. The Knighthead Capital Management co-founder and chairman, whose minority stakeholder is NFL legend Tom Brady, who recently travelled from the US to attend matches, signalling the board’s growing impatience.
So Far, So Good
Gary O’Neil was a versatile midfielder who made 214 Premier League appearances over 13 seasons from 2003–2016. He debuted for Portsmouth at 16 in 2000, starring in their 2008 FA Cup win.
Spells followed at Middlesbrough, West Ham, Norwich, and Championship clubs like QPR and Bolton. He retired in 2018 at 35, a respected journeyman who never hit stardom but always delivered.
O’Neil’s coaching rise began in August 2022 at AFC Bournemouth. Thrust in as interim straightly after Scott Parker’s 9-0 Liverpool demolishing, he had little senior experience, just Liverpool academy roles. Yet he engineered survival with an unbeaten six-game streak, September Manager of the Month, and a 15th-place finish, five points clear of relegation.
Brutally sacked that summer despite praise, he was deemed surplus amid changes at the top of Cherries hierarchy.
In August 2023, O’Neil took over a relegation-threatened Wolves. A derby draw kicked things off, followed by wins over Forest and Leicester. His high-pressure style secured 14th place in the Black Country, with scalps over City, Chelsea, and Spurs. Twice a Manager of the Month nominee, his passion won over the fans. But a brutal run of seven straight league losses led to his dismissal last December.
Now 42 and without a club, O’Neil has been an avid follower and studier of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Wigan Warriors, and all top-flight game. Emotionally, data-driven, and player-focused, he’s ready for his next shot and a move to the Championship could be just what’s needed to reignite his managerial career.
Writers View
Appointing Gary O’Neil carries clear risk. This should really aim to be a consolidation season of mid-table stability, not getting to ahead of themselves. Yet O’Neil arrives with two sackings in three years: Bournemouth axed him after he secured survival and Wolves dismissed him in December amid a seven-game losing streak.
His strengths of high energy, pressing systems, player management are real. He guided Bournemouth to 15th and Wolves to 14th. But consistency remains unproven especially without a job in the Championship.
For a club prioritising steady progress over bold reinvention, O’Neil represents an unnecessary gamble. He must deliver immediate results to silence doubts and avoid becoming the third owner to pull the trigger.
That being said, O’Neil has great experience he can bring to the Championship, but would it work?
