Birmingham City make decision over manager's job as former Millwall and Stoke City boss 'confirmed' today

Birmingham City are reportedly in talks with former manager Gary Rowett over the possibility of taking over as interim boss until the end of the season.

The Mirror is reporting that Blues are 'turning' to Rowett over a return. Talks have been opened with the 50-year-old as Birmingham try to stave off the threat of relegation. Current manager Tony Mowbray is recovering from an illness and in his place his right-hand man Mark Venus has been appointed but Birmingham have yet to win under Mowbray's assistant.

Daily Telegraph journalist John Percy backed up the reports and said that Rowett would be confirmed later today. He will either have the role of interim head coach or as consultant.

Birmingham are outside of the relegation zone on goal difference having conceded two less goals than Huddersfield Town. Under Venus' watch, Birmingham have taken just one point from a possible 18 and have moved down from 15th to 21st.

His proposed appointment will see him become the sixth person to take on the role in some capacity. John Eustace began the campaign in charge and was later replaced by Wayne Rooney, but the Man United legend was then sacked in January. Under-21s boss Steve Spooner took the role on a caretaker basis before the appointment of Tony Mowbray, and then when Mowbray stepped aside, Venus became the fourth person to take on the role.

The 50-year-old played for Birmingham City from 1998 to 2000 and later went on to manage the club. He was in the St Andrew's hot seat from 2014 to 2016 and was controversially sacked with the club in seventh place with similarities to this season when John Eustace was removed from his position and replaced by Wayne Rooney, despite being in the play-offs.

He oversaw 106 games in charge of Birmingham in his first spell, winning 42, whilst drawing and losing 32 games each. Rowett oversaw two consecutive 10th placed finishes.

Rowett has out of work having ended his four-year stay with Millwall by mutual consent in October 2023. Since leaving Millwall in the winter, he has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports.