'Too much change' - Birmingham City fans share views on difficult season with Championship relegation looming

A season that began with much optimism among Birmingham City supporters could well end in disaster this Saturday (May 4).

Blues are 22nd in the Championship and in the final relegation spot as Gary Rowett’s side prepare for their 46th and final league fixture of the 2023/24 campaign. City are one point behind Plymouth heading into the last day with their fate out of their own hands.

Plymouth take on play-off chasing Hull City on Saturday, knowing a win will keep them up and send Blues down, with Birmingham at home to Norwich City on Saturday. Norwich are 5th and have all but secured a play-off place with their superior goal difference to Hull who sit two places below the Canaries.

Hull need to win and hope that West Brom lose at home to Preston-North-End to make the play-offs themseleves, but the fact that they have a chance to sneak into the top six and make the play-offs on the final day of the season will certainly give Liam Rosenior’s side strong incentive to beat Plymouth, which would of course work in Blues’ favour.

Norwich will also want to finish the season strongly and secure a 5th place finish, but Blues’ Championship status is by no means settled and remains firmly in the balance as we head into the decisive final day.

It’s been a very difficult campaign for the club at St Andrew’s this season, and playing in the third tier of English football next season could become reality come Saturday evening.

Despite being taken over by Americans Knighthead Capital in the summer - a move which is undoubtedly positive for the future of the club with exciting plans for a new stadium - there have been contentious decisions at boardroom level which have derailed the side’s season.

Replacing John Eustace with Wayne Rooney during the early months of the camapign when Blues were in 6th place being one of them. The former England captain was sacked after just 13 weeks in charge at St Andrew’s. Blues chairman Tom Wagner then appointed the experienced Tony Mowbray, although he had to temporarily step down from his role after only eight games to undergo medical treatment for an illness.

Gary Rowett took over as caretaker manager but the side has struggled ever since Eustace’s departure.

But what do the fans think? We asked supporters on social media why they think Birmingham City have struggled so much this season and what needs to change in the future.

Here’s what they said.

‘Trying to run before they can walk’

Blues fan Jack Mason, said: “Poor recruitment from Eustace to start the season. He did ok and was made to look good by a couple of wins before he went.”

He added: “Rowett I think would’ve kept us up comfortably if he had come in within a game or two of Mowbray being signed off. If we go down hope Mowbray is fit and well as I’m certain he’d get us back up. If he isn’t then we may have to stick with Rowett even though his negativity is concerning.”

Mickey wrote: “No centre forward to partner stansfield.” Shofiull Abdin wrote: “Bad recruitment.”

Richard Williams added: “Five managers this season. Although Mowbray being taken ill wasn’t the boards fault. Sacking Eustace for Rooney was a shocking decision. What needs to change is stability and good decision making.”

Len wrote: “The players need to put a shift in. I don’t like losing, but if they give it their all then I have no complaints. It when the just turn up knowing they’ll get paid whatever the outcome.”

Jae Whateley said: “Only signing one striker on loan hasn't done us any favors. John Eustace had to go but appointing Rooney was a mistake, hindsight is 20/20 though. All that along with Mowbray being taken ill and some bad injuries means we've made some bad decisions and had even worse luck.”

Gez Hehir said: “Too much change is bad in any environment. The Rooney decision is the obvious one, but I seem to have a different opinion to most Blues fans I speak to.

“The board made the decision (poorly imo) to bring him in, but then didn't even give him a transfer window to action anything. I agree the results and some performances were poor but there was other times when I genuinely felt we were unlucky and played really well (Ipswich was a standout).”

Ian Satchell said: “Under-investment in the playing staff over the last decade , alongside lack of ambition from the previous owners has resulted in our recent poor history.

“Questionable timing over the sacking of certain managers has added to our problems. Stability and investment in the team is what is needed, success will surely follow.”

Paul added: “The players needing to learn so many different playing styles hasn’t helped that’s why any new manager needed a pre season to change the philosophy of the team.

“Now Rowett is playing that cautious style like John Eustace played (some might say negative) we have looked better at the back but it’s come slightly late as Mark Venus was given a game or two long in the job. What ever happens Saturday this the most excited I’ve been about the future as a fan KRO.”

Bill said: “Sacking John Eustace after we'd just won two games and moved into playoff position. We lost all momentum from then.”

John Brimble wrote: “As we were stuck for finances this year, and had 11 players leaving this Summer, the owners should have stuck with Eustace at least for this season.

“It was pointless changing him when we did as any new manager wouldn’t have been given large transfer funds anyway.Don’t think Eustace would have got us to playoffs with this team but would have finished mid table/ top of bottom half.”

Oliver James said: “My honest opinion is: 1) recruitment was a bit lacking, whilst hampered by Financial Fair Play. 2) six gaffers in one season? Always going to be a disaster. 3) Rooney. Nothing against the guy. Just the wrong person for the wrong job at the wrong time.

4) Even under John Eustace, Blues were punching above their weight. Everyone goes about about playoffs, but that early? Doesn't count. 5) it's been a decade playing chicken with relegation, eventually we'll get smashed.”