The dust has now settled on Wayne Rooney’s sacking and Birmingham City are on the hunt for their next manager. Countless names have been linked over the last couple of days but it appears the shortlist is narrowing, with quite a few changes in bookmakers’ markets.
A tricky task awaits whoever is hired as Birmingham are well down in 20th spot in the Sky Bet Championship, just six points above Sheffield Wednesday in the relegation zone.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper was thought to be the clear favourite immediately after Rooney was shown the exit door, but two new candidates are leading the way, according to The Mirror.
More recently, The Telegraph has claimed ex-Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Mowbray has held initial talks.
There’s still time for that to change, though, so it’s worth assessing all the personnel mentioned. With that in mind, here are the 13 favourites to take over in the St Andrew’s dugout, as per Sky Bet.
1. Anthony Barry (currently at Bayern Munich as assistant manager)
Probability of becoming next Birmingham manager: 25/1
2. Scott Parker (unemployed; last job: Club Brugge)
Probability of becoming next Birmingham manager: 20/1
3. Ralph Hasenhuttl (unemployed; last job: Southampton)
Probability of becoming next Birmingham manager: 20/1
4. Neil Warnock (unemployed; last job: Huddersfield)
Probability of becoming next Birmingham manager: 18/1