Mixed reception as former Stoke boss at Birmingham, applications open for new position

Alex Neil is being tipped as the favorite to be the next Birmingham City manager in another summer of plenty of change in the Championship and beyond.

Only Kieran McKenna, Carlos Corberan, Michael Carrick, Mark Robins and Ryan Lowe were in their jobs last year and remain so now away from all Championship clubs in 2023/24. And promoted Ipswich Town McKenna is being courted by Premier League clubs, while West Brom’s Corberan is the bookies’ favorite to replace Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca at Leicester.

There are vacancies to be filled. David Wagner was fine at Norwich as they lost in the play-off semi-finals, while Liam Rosenior was dropped as Hull just missed out on the top six. Johannes Hoff Thorup, 35, who is in charge of Danish club Nordsjælland, is set to take over at Carrow Road, with Tim Walters, recently from Hamburg, set to replace Rosenior.

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Scott Parker is the shortest favorite to step in at relegated Burnley in place of Bayern Munich-bound Vincent Kompany. Will Still is likely to be the new man at Sunderland.

Danny Rohl has been handed a contract extension at Sheffield Wednesday, where he has performed a minor miracle in guiding the club to Championship safety. Wayne Rooney is back in football at Plymouth Argyle.

There was a mixed response from the Birmingham fans to the possibility of Neil replacing Tony Mowbray, who withdrew due to health reasons. Gary Rowett, another former Stoke boss, deputized for the last two months of the season but could not prevent the club’s slide into League One.

Rosenior was the popular choice among supporters in a poll by BirminghamLive, followed by Rowett with Neil, who left Stoke in December, following the two plus Paul Heckingbottom, Dave Challinor and Frank Lampard.

Stoke open application process for new ‘fan board’

The application process has opened for positions on Stoke City Connect, a supporters’ advisory group which will essentially replace the fans’ council.

Supporters who are appointed to Stoke City Connect will meet four times a year to have a structured dialogue with the club, share ideas and provide feedback on matters of importance to the fan base as a whole.

Candidates must complete an application form and there will be an interview panel including Andy Wilkinson, Jess Grundy from the Football Supporters’ Association, Reverend Geoff Eze from Stoke Minster and myself, Stoke Sentinel reporter Peter Smith.

Appointments will be made based on a combination of lived and professional experience, diversity encouraged and love and support for Stoke City essential. The number of successful candidates will be determined by the interview committee.

The deadline for registration is Monday, June 10, at 9:00 am. For more information, click here.

Prize for Thibaud Verlinden

Congratulations to Thibaud Verlinden who was named Challenger Pro League Player of the Year.

The Stoke youth graduate helped Germinal Beerschot win the title and promotion to the top flight, playing alongside D’Margio Wright-Phillips, who was loaned from Stoke for the second half of the season.

Verlinden set up 10 goals in his second season for Beerschot and scored another five himself.

Jaden Dixon on the march with England Under-17s

Stoke youth defender Jaden Dixon and England have reached the knockout stages of the European Under-17 Championships.

They beat France 4-0 in their first match before being stung 4-1 by Portugal, who later lost 2-1 to France. A 3-1 win over Spain on Monday wrapped up the group stage and England will now face Italy in the quarter-finals on Thursday (6.30pm).

The Czech Republic will face Denmark, Austria face Serbia and Portugal face Poland in the last eight matches.

Joel Taylor on the move

Best of luck to former Stoke rookie Joel Taylor who has joined Hednesford Town from Chester.

The left-back, now 27, made the bench in the Premier League for Stoke after coming through the ranks and has also played for Kidderminster Harriers, Chesterfield, Notts County and Wealdstone since leaving the Potters in 2019.

Former fellow Stokie Marvin Robinson was appointed as Hednesford’s chief executive earlier this month and a yet-to-be-disclosed new manager was apparently “instrumental” in getting the Taylor deal done.

Seyi Olofinjana obtains the highest coaching qualification

Well done to former Stoke midfielder Seyi Olofinjana who has completed his Uefa Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification in European football.

Olofinjana, who already holds two masters degrees as a sporting director and project manager, studied for his pro degree with Wales FA with classmates including Mile Jedinak, Darren Purse and Davide Ancelotti, Carlo’s son and current assistant manager at Real madrid.

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