Birmingham City next manager: Former Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland bosses tipped with Wayne Rooney on thin ice

The pressure is swiftly building on Birmingham City manager Wayne Rooney with Blues now hovering merely seven points above the Championship relegation zone. Birmingham appeared to be improving somewhat as they claimed four points from nine against Cardiff City, Leicester City and Plymouth Argyle but a 3-1 defeat to Stoke City brought them back down to earth.

Other recent managerial movements across the Premier League and EFL have probably thinned the ice on which Rooney stands, too, with more head coaches available as potential replacements. Markets have opened for punters tipping for who could come in — and there are some shock names on the list. Here’s a run-through of the favourites.