It was another tough season for the Blues as Lee Bowyer could only lead the club to 20th place in the Championship table, two places and five points lower than the previous campaign. Without Derby County’s points deduction, they would have finished a place lower.
Managerial change?
The lack of progress has put Bowyer’s position in doubt with rumours linking Canada men’s national team coach John Herdman with the role. Herdman led Canada to their first World Cup in 36 years. They will line up in Group F alongside Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco, where they are priced at 11/4 in the football betting odds to make it to the next stage. Canada are likely to be a popular football betting prediction as they certainly have the potential to qualify for the knockout stages.
CANADA END A 36-YEAR WORLD CUP DROUGHT AND QUALIFY FOR QATAR 2022. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/4nKagVcz6z
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 27, 2022
The Englishman previously enjoyed success as the coach of both the New Zealand and Canada women’s national teams and has also been linked with other clubs. With his services in high demand, it is still unclear what his next role will be.
Academy downgraded
Another issue facing the Blues is their academy, which has lost its elite status. The centre that produced England midfielder Jude Bellingham, Demarai Gray and Nathan Redmond has been informed by the Professional Game Board (PGB) that their Category One license will be revoked due to lack of investment. This is a major setback for the club and reflects badly on the club’s owners who have also faced criticism for their lack of investment in other areas including the stadium.
Takeover talks ongoing
All this comes at a time when the future of the club’s owners, Birmingham Sports Holdings Ltd, is also in doubt. The club is currently up for sale and takeover talks are ongoing. It is expected that any takeover would accelerate Bowyer’s departure after 14 months in charge at St Andrew’s.
EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham takeover bidders line up new boss as Lee Bowyer future hangs in balance | ✍️ @JamesNursey https://t.co/bH3Au6JeP2 pic.twitter.com/2LOe04vQ1i
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) May 13, 2022
His reign began in a positive vein with five wins and two draws in their last 10 matches to avoid relegation last term. But this season, the atmosphere around the club has been shrouded in negativity.
Potential new owners include a group featuring ex-Argentine footballer Maxi Lopez, and another UK-based investor. Fans will be hoping for some positive news soon after six years of turmoil with BSH, which included a nine-point deduction for breaching financial regulations.
Huge potential
Birmingham City is a big club with massive potential for the right owners. Despite many years in the top fight, they have never fulfilled their potential as a team from England’s second-biggest city. And their rivalry with Aston Villa is one of the fiercest in football yet hasn’t graced the Premier League in 11 years.
There have been some positive steps from people within the club to make the best of the current situation and Lee Bowyer can legitimately claim mitigating circumstances for their current position. It is just a shame he will probably not be given the opportunity to work with the support and backing of any new owners. Reports suggest that he may even be removed before any takeover is completed. But right now, the club and the manager are left drifting into further uncertainty.
