Another managerial vacancy has become available in a massive summer of change, Birmingham City sacking Garry Monk on Tuesday evening. The club are in search of another man to lead Birmingham City into the 2019/20 Championship season, with it already clear to distinguish an early favourite.
The sacking came after a mass of rumours hinting at there being underlying issues between Garry Monk and Birmingham City, where the official announcement came with quotes from the club stating that the decision was made due to it being 'vitally important for everybody at the club to be sharing the same vision'. Statements from the club didn't shine as much light as fans would want, but it was made immediately clear that assistant manager Pep Clotet would stand in as caretaker head coach until a suitable replacement was found.
Newspapers across the UK reported shortly after the sacking that it came about following a succession of rows between Garry Monk and club official Xuandong Ren. Ren apparently started a feud with the manager after opening an office close to Birmingham City's training ground, where he could keep tabs on the players, undermining Monk's authority as manager.
He then went on to make decisions which should have been in the hands of Garry Monk including the acquisition of backroom staff and how the club was run financially. The financial issues at the club eventually led to a nine-point reduction last season, almost costing them their place in the Championship, so it was a crucial matter that Garry Monk wanted to handle himself.
Not long after Garry Monk was officially sacked by Birmingham City, bookmakers opened up markets on his replacement. Odds are available on the next Birmingham City manager, and there's already more than thirty names listed.
Market opens with assistant manager Pep Clotet as favourite
In most instances where Garry Monk has moved elsewhere for whatever reason, assistant manager Pep Clotet has followed with him, but the Spaniard has opted to remain at St Andrews this time, working as caretaker head coach until the club finds a long-term replacement. This factor alone has put him down as favourite, currently as short as 4/6 on Sky Bet.
Following closely behind, the price for Xavier Calm to become next Birmingham manager is also continuing to drop, emerging as a surprise candidate at 4/1 after being mostly unknown through primarily managing UE Cornella in the Spanish third division.
Two other names are currently priced below the 10/1 mark in the form of recently departed Hull City manager Nigel Adkins at 13/2, and Chris Hughton at 8/1, who was sacked by Brighton & Hove Albion in May. Nigel Adkins was assumed to be one of the first managers to be sacked in the Championship before proving everyone wrong in playing top class football and reaching thirteenth. As for Chris Hughton, his methods were outdated enough to see him lose his job at the AMEX, but he'd be a dream candidate for Championship clubs, and his track record is undoubtably strong.
Over thirty names are given a price in the next Birmingham manager odds market, twelve names priced below 20/1. After Pep Clotet, Xavier Calm, Nigel Adkins and Chris Hughton, Steve McClaren is given 10/1 odds, which would be a peculiar acquisition considering the number of chances he's had at managing within the Championship. He was also sacked by QPR last season in what felt like the last chance he could get for some time, so it would be unforeseen to witness the former England manager appointed at Birmingham.
Odds continue to drift for most potential candidates, but as things stand, Birmingham City U23 manager Paul Robinson and former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet both remain in the fold at 14/1, Chris Coleman is an option alongside Rotherham United manager Paul Warne and recently-sacked Middlesbrough boss Tony Pulis at 16/1, and both Aitor Karanka and regularly-linked Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley are priced at 18/1.
Next Birmingham City Manager Odds
(All odds taken from Sky Bet)
- Pep Clotet - 4/6
- Xavier Calm - 7/2
- Nigel Adkins - 13/2
- Chris Hughton - 8/1
- Steve McClaren - 10/1
- Paul Robinson (Birmingham U23 Coach) - 14/1
- Guy Poyet - 14/1
- Chris Coleman - 16/1
- Paul Warne - 16/1
- Tony Pulis - 16/1
- Aitor Karanka - 18/1
- Danny Cowley - 18/1
- Alex Neil - 20/1
- James Beattie - 20/1
- Daniel Stendel - 25/1
- Darren Moore - 22/1
- Michael Appleton - 22/1
- Gary Rowett - 25/1
- David Moyes - 25/1
- Mark Robins - 25/1
- Paul Cook - 25/1
- Sam Allardyce - 25/1
- Simon Grayson - 25/1
- Sol Campbell - 25/1
- Stephen Clemence - 28/1
- Phil Neville - 28/1
- Gianfranco Zola - 33/1
- Slavisa Jokanovic - 33/1
- Carlos Carvalhal - 33/1
- Micky Mellon - 33/1
- Mikel Arteta - 33/1
- Nigel Pearson - 33/1
- Steven Gerrard - 40/1
