Lee Bowyer opens up on life as Birmingham City manager and #BSHLOUT protests

Birmingham City manager Lee Bowyer has discussed what it’s been like to manage Blues during the last year.

In an interview with talkSPORT, the former Birmingham player admitted his first full season in charge at St Andrew’s hasn’t been an easy one.

Speaking to host Jim White on the show, Bowyer, said:“It’s been difficult, Jim, at times there have been some things that have surprised me.

“Just surprised me because some of the things I thought would’ve happened in the summer have not happened ,but I was aware of that, but then there’s been a change in the upstairs roles.

“Now I know the situation and it’s just a case of knuckling down, turning things around and that’s it, that’s all I can do you know.”

After starting the social media campaign #BSHLOUT, Blues fans have been protesting against the club’s owners, Birmingham Sports Holdings Ltd (BSHL) before their recent home games, with the latest protest being held before their side’s 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United on Friday (4 February).

Despite fan protests, Birmingham City’s board have said in recent weeks that the owners have ‘no intention’ to sell the club with Birmingham City’s chairman Wenqing Zhao also issuing a to say that the board and owners take responsibility for the growing discontent among the fans, and that he “wants to make this club a success and finally return to the Premier League”.

Despite the off-field concerns, Bowyer currently has City in 18th place in the Championship.

Birmingham fans sang “there’s only one Lee Bowyer” during Friday’s (4 February) protest against the owners.

When asked by White whether the protests have been difficult for him and his team to ignore, Bowyer said:“Yes and no. The noise, I like the noise, I like atmosphere, I want it to be positive, Jim.

“I want a positive atmosphere whenever our fans come to the stadium. I just want them to get behind the team because we need it. Difficult things are happening in and around the squad with the injuries and suspensions and we need the fans.

“That’s a big part of why I came here, because I know what they’re capable of doing, and if we do our jobs right then they’ll help us along the way.

“Like I’ve said on many occasions, the upstairs things I can’t control.

“It will only get better now Jim. There have been mistakes made in the past, but the people that made the mistakes are no longer here.

“So now it’s a case of all coming together, working together, and moving forwards”.

When asked by White if he regretted leaving Charlton Athletic for Blues last year, Bowyer, who is from London, said: “No, never regret.

“This is a decision that I made. But my thoughts and passions towards Charlton, course it will never change.

“I loved the club, I started my playing career there and I had opportunities playing there, then coaching and then moving into the managing side there.

“And we had some great times, probably some of the most memorable times in a long time with going to Wembley.

“I wish them all the very best, but I’m here and I’m dedicated to being here, it’s another club that I care about and I’ll do my best here, just like I did at Charlton.”

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