Next Birmingham City manager: Rowett and Phelan top bill

It could be a straight shootout between Burton Albion manager Gary Rowett and Sir Alex Ferguson’s former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan as to who is named the next manager of Birmingham City.

Lee Clark was relieved of his duties as Blues boss this week, following a run of just one win in 11 this season with the final straw coming in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Bolton at St Andrews, which was the Midlands club’s third consecutive loss at home in the Championship.

And less than 24 hours on from the announcement of Clark’s departure, a plethora of big names are already being linked with a move into the Birmingham City hotseat.

Outspoken former Swindon Town and Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio can be backed at 25/1 with Ladbrokes to be named the next Brummie boss, while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has also emerged as a surprise contender at 33/1 with the bookmaker.

It is quickly looking like a two-horse race, however, with Phelan and Rowett among the favourites for the Championship post.

Manager of Burton Albion in League Two, Rowett’s side sit third in the table but after a run of three defeats in their last four the 40-year-old manager, who played 86 games for Birmingham from 1998 to 2000, could leave while the going is still good and is available at 6/4 to take the post.

A former West Bromwich Albion player, Phelan’s time as Assistant Manager with the Red Devils would make him a tempting choice, having seen the likes of Brian Kidd and Steve McClaren thrive after coming out of the shadow of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former Manchester United man is available at 11/8 with Ladbrokes to be named the next Birmingham City manager, while former Blues boss Chris Hughton is on at 10/1 to make a shock return and Owen Coyle can be backed at 14/1 to make a surprise return to the game.

Elsewhere former Leeds United and Reading manager Brian McDermott is available at 16/1 to take the job while Tony Mowbray, Aidy Boothroyd and Steve Clarke are all on at 20/1 respectively.

The full list of candidates you can back with Ladbrokes is available below – click here to bet on the next Birmingham City manager.

11/8 Mike Phelan

6/4 Gary Rowett

10/1 Chris Hughton

14/1 Owen Coyle

16/1 Brian McDermott

20/1 Tony Mowbray

20/1 Aidy Boothroyd

20/1 Steve Clarke

25/1 Billy Davies

25/1 Paolo Di Canio

33/1 Paul Robinson

33/1 Steven Pressley

33/1 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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