Birmingham City have remained steadfast on Tony Mowbray as Gary Rowett makes his signing official

Birmingham City are still eyeing Tony Mowbray’s return as manager this summer. Absolute clarity is yet to come, but the Blues’ top brass are working on the basis that Mowbray will return and lead the club into League One.

Mowbray, 60, resigned in February to receive treatment for an unspecified illness. The man who guided Blackburn Rovers to promotion from League One in 2018 was only appointed Blues manager in January after Wayne Rooney’s disastrous 15-game tenure.

He led the team to four wins, one draw and three defeats in his eight games in charge before handing over the reins to assistant Mark Venus and, most recently, interim boss Gary Rowett.

Given the sensitivity of the situation, the Blues have only occasionally addressed it in carefully worded statements. The line over the past three months has been that Mowbray is set to return for pre-season and Birmingham Live it was said that nothing had changed.

READ: Path cleared for Blues to sign Tony Mowbray favorite on free transfer

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Rowett officially signs

Gary Rowett said goodbye to the Blues for a third time on Monday. The 50-year-old led them to 11 points from eight games in charge, but it was not enough to save the club from relegation.

Rowett, who previously played for and managed the Blues, has now stepped aside to pave the way for Mowbray to resume his role as manager.

In an Instagram post, Rowett said: “Last week gave me the chance to reflect on my interim spell with Birmingham City. Although the result was not what we had hoped for, to be able to come back and represent such a special club was a privilege.

“For anyone connected with BCFC, the disappointment of relegation and the manner in which it happened will still linger. I tried to help instill confidence in the players and created a team that represented the characteristics of the city: fight, togetherness and a never-say-die mentality.

“However, I truly believe this is the start of an exciting new chapter for the football club under new ownership and with the existing infrastructure. I would like to say a massive thank you to the many great staff who have worked so hard over the last eight games and of course the fans who have been magnificent again throughout.

“A win on the final day wasn’t enough to save us, with results elsewhere not going our way, but the atmosphere and unity inside St Andrew’s that afternoon is something I’ll never forget. I’m looking forward to seeing the Blues back next season and seeing what’s next in my own journey.”

Blues tipped for promotion

EFL pundit Don Goodman has backed the Blues to win promotion from League One at the first time of asking – whether Knighthead has got things right this summer. The Blues were already installed as favorites to win the League One title in what would be their first season in the third tier since 1994/95.

Goodman criticized Blues owners Knighthead for their decision to sack John Eustace in October when the team were in the play-offs and appoint Wayne Rooney. He is confident the Blues will bounce back if better decisions are made in his second season at the helm.

Goodman told OLBG: “If the owners get their decisions and recruitment right next season, Birmingham City will be promoted. I don’t see Ligue 1 being very strong next season and I don’t think it was this season. League One has been very strong in the 2022/2023 campaign.

“If I was a Birmingham fan, I’d be very disappointed to be relegated, but also optimistic that the hierarchy are making the right decisions, winning football games, rediscovering the feel-good factor, getting behind the team and seeing them come back. The championship in a strong place.”

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