Birmingham City ‘interested in’ hiring Canada boss John Herdman as head coach

Birmingham City are reportedly interested in hiring highly-rated Canada boss John Herdman as the club’s new head coach.

According to The Sun, Blues are ‘keeping tabs’ on the Englishman who has guided Canada to only their second World Cup finals.

A proposed takeover of City has left Lee Bowyer’s future up in the air.

The Telegraph has reported that British businessman Laurence Bassini has been granted exclusivity over a purchase of the club and is conducting due diligence over a potential £32 million deal to buy the club - with the Daily Mail claiming that West Ham United owner David Sullivan - the former owner of Birmingham who sold the club to Carson Yeung in 2009 - is funding the deal.

The Telegraph claims that Bowyer’s position as manager at St Andrew’s is now “uncertain”, although the former Charlton boss was due for talks with the owners after the Championship season came to an end last week.

Canada boss Herdman, 46, has reportedly already attracted interest from Burnley and Blackburn Rovers.

Herdman took on a coaching position with Sunderland’s academy in 2001 before moving to New Zealand, joining the national association.

He lead New Zealand’s women’s team at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, as well as the 2008 Olympics.

He then took over as Canada women’s boss in 2011, before switching to the Canada men’s team seven years later.

Impressively, he took them from 72nd in the Fifa rankings to a national-high 40th and has secured qualification for Qatar 2022.

What has Lee Bowyer said about his Blues future?

Following City’s last game of the season against Blackburn Rovers last week, Bowyer said: “I’m meeting on Monday and I’m sure we will talk about how we can improve going forward.

“I would like to hear they understand the situation I’ve had to face this season; we all have to be realistic.

“I want clarity in terms of what the plan is and how we can improve because I want to be the person challenging up the other end and winning things.

“But I know one thing, it is going to take time because there are contracts people are on and they’ve got years to run.”.

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