‘A good option…’: Former Sunderland manager holds ‘initial talks’ with Birmingham City

‘A good option…’: Former Sunderland manager holds ‘initial talks’ with Birmingham City

Birmingham City may welcome back a former Sunderland manager to the dugout this summer.

After this season, Michael Beale and Tony Mowbray will join the expanding list of former Sunderland managers.

Sunderland entered the 2023–24 season under Mowbray’s direction, and the Black Cats

were vying for a top six finish under his leadership.

However, Sunderland’s owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus would fire Mowbray shortly after appointing Beale,

who was only head coach for 12 games.

Sunderland would ultimately end in 16th place in the Championship table despite Mike Dodds

‘ best efforts to pick up the pieces failing.

And now, more than three months after Beale was ousted, Sunderland continue without a permanent manager in

place, and no closer to appointing their next one either.

Birmingham City and former Sunderland boss Alex Neil have “initial talks.”

It has now been made public that Alex Neil, the former manager of Sunderland,

has had “initial talks” with Birmingham City regarding Mowbray’s replacement this summer.

Birmingham City, who finished in 22nd place in the Championship table, is preparing for a

League One season. Mowbray just resigned as manager of the Blues in order to concentrate on his health.

After leading teams like Sunderland and Norwich City to Football League promotions, 42-year-old Neil has been’regarded as a good option,’ according to Telegraph journalist John Percy,

who made the announcement on X. Blues and Neil have held talks.

Neil was with Sunderland for just six months during 2022, winning 50% of his 24 games

at the helm before leaving for Stoke City in August that year.

But he was sacked in December 2023, leaving with a win percentage of 33% despite Stoke City spending heavily in the transfer market last summer.

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