Ex-Celtic boss emerges as ‘very strong contender’ to replace Wayne Rooney at Birmingham as talks held
WAYNE ROONEY was sacked as Birmingham boss this week after a disastrous spell as manager.
And a former Celtic boss is emerging as the leading contender to replace him.
Birmingham had a fantastic start to the English Championship campaign and were firmly in play-off contention.
Previous boss John Eustace had the Blues in sixth position before he was controversially sacked as the club's new American owners targeted a 'big name' manager.
They subsequently appointed former England star Rooney, 38, but it simply didn't work out.
Birmingham's form dropped dramatically and Rooney won just two of his 15 matches in charge, losing NINE.
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The alarming run has seen them fall all the way down to 20th and just six points clear of the relegation zone.
A 3-0 defeat to Leeds on New Year's Day - in which Birmingham fans chanted "Wayne Rooney, get out of our club" - spelled the end for the Manchester United legend as the board, that includes NFL icon Tom Brady, pulled the trigger.
Several names have been linked with the vacancy following Rooney's departure, including Chelsea icon Frank Lampard and former Birmingham boss Gary Rowett.
But it's a former Celtic boss who could be set for a quickfire return to management.
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The Telegraph are reporting that Tony Mowbray has emerged as a "very strong candidate" for the job at St Andrew's having held initial talks.
Mogga, 60, would be in line for a quickfire return to management having been sacked by Sunderland a month ago, despite the club sitting ninth in the table.
The Black Cats went on to appoint former Rangers boss Michael Beale as his replacement.
According to the report, Mowbray is seen as a good option with plenty of Championship experience behind him having previously been in charge of Blackburn and West Brom in the division.
Mowbray played for Celtic between 1991 and 1995 before returning to Scottish football as Hibs boss in 2004.
A successful stint at Easter Road saw him head to West Brom in 2006 before he got the call from Celtic in 2009 to replace Gordon Strachan.
But it proved an unsuccessful spell as Hoops boss for Mowbray who lasted just nine months in the role.
He was sacked in March 2010 after a 4-0 defeat to St Mirren and would exit the club having failed to guide the club to any silverware.
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Mowbray is now the odds-on favourite to become the next Birmingham boss.
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