Tony Mowbray may not return to Birmingham City – Sources – Footymercato.com
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Tony Mowbray may not return to manage Birmingham City, sources have told Football Insider.
Mowbray, 60, has been on a medical leave of absence since mid-February for an unspecified illness, and the club announced on Tuesday that former Blues boss Gary Rowett will return on an interim basis to manage the team until the end of the season.
The club’s public stance is that Mowbray will return to his post at the start of the 2024-25 pre-season, but well-placed sources have told Football Insider that this is now looking less likely.
It is believed that Mowbray himself has pushed to make an early return to the dugout, but medical staff ruled that out.
Tony Mowbray may not return to Birmingham City
He is sad by sources to be “gutted” not to get the chance to manage the team for any of the remaining eight games of the season.
It is also believed that Rowett has been told by Birmingham chiefs that if Mowbray’s health does not improve he will get the chance to continue as manager into next season.
The former Blackburn and Celtic boss last took charge of the Blues’ 2-1 St Andrew’s win against Sunderland on 17 February, which could have been his final game as boss.
After Wayne Rooney was sacked following his disastrous 5-month spell, Mowbray was appointed on 8 January and secured four wins out of eight in all competitions before his medical leave.
Birmingham confirmed on Tuesday (19 March) that Rowett, who managed the club between October 2014 and December 2016, would take the reins for the rest of the campaign.
Assistant coach Mark Venus had assumed managerial duties, but he is now set to depart and will return should Mowbray make a comeback.
Birmingham sit 21st in the Championship table after three consecutive defeats – most recently a 1-0 home loss to Watford on Saturday (16 March).
They are next in action against QPR on 29 March after the international break.
In other news, Watford set sights on League One boss to be new manager – sources.
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