Birmingham City manager update as club hold 'talks' with former Sunderland and Norwich City boss

Birmingham City are said to have held 'initial talks' with Alex Neil over becoming their next manager, according to a respected journalist.

Telegraph reporter John Percy who specialises in football in the Midlands has provided an update on the Blues search for a new manager. Neil has emerged as the first major contender for the role and is regarded as a 'good option' because of his promotions. The appointment process is still ongoing however with the club still yet to decide on who will succeed Tony Mowbray in the St Andrew’s hot seat.

Neil has been out of work since being relieved of his duties as Stoke City manager back in December 2023. The 42-year-old departed the Potters with the club 20th in the Championship, leaving with a win percentage of 33.3%.

He has experience of winning promotion both from League One and the Championship. Sunderland had languished in the third tier for three seasons until Neil arrived and he guided the Black Cats to the Championship via the play-offs. The Scotsman left the Stadium of Light however for Stoke City and was replaced by Mowbray in August 2022.

The former Hamilton Academical boss has been in management for 11-years, beginning with the Accies. He won the play-offs with the Scottish club in 2014 and just a year later he joined Norwich City, helping them win the Championship play-offs.

In a recent interview, Neil said he was keen to replicate what he did at Preston North End. He wanted a squad he could 'really enjoy' with players that are hungry'. Preston is the club where he spent the longest of his managerial career, managing them for almost four years with nine game shy of 200 matches. He guided them to seventh, 14th and ninth placed finishes in the three full seasons he was there.