Ex Man City and Brentford coach linked with Championship club in crisis

Ex Brentford and Manchester City coach Lee Carsley has been named as a potential interim manager for Birmingham City as Tony Mowbray takes a period of leave to receive treatment for an illness.

The current England under-21 boss is a contender alongside former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper to take the gig on a temporary basis as Mowbray steps down with immediate effect. Birmingham City have confirmed that assistant manager Mark Venus will 'assume temporary responsibility for the team with immediate effect' but The Mirror reports that an interim managerial appointment hasn't been ruled out by the club.

Mowbray informed players and staff of the situation on Monday morning at a private meeting at its Henley-in-Arden training base. The news comes in a tumultuous season for Birmingham City, who had already sacked John Eustace and Wayne Rooney during the campaign.

In a statement issued by the club, the 60-year-old explained: “Following my recent LMA Health Assessment I have received a medical diagnosis that will require me to receive treatment. Undergoing treatment will necessitate that I temporarily step away from the Technical Area as Manager of Birmingham City Football Club. Until I return, my Assistant Manager, Mark Venus, will take temporary charge of the team, supported by coaches Ashley Cole, Pete Shuttleworth and Maik Taylor. I will continue to provide advice and counsel while undergoing treatment.

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“The Club has been incredibly supportive of me and my family and we are very grateful. I know that everyone will be respectful of our privacy at this time.”

Birmingham City Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said: “Our thoughts are with Tony, his wife Amber, and family. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming Tony back to the Club to continue the excellent work that he has started. In the meantime, Mark Venus, Ashley Cole, Pete Shuttleworth and Maik Taylor, will be given all the support they need to lead the Club forward.”

The Midlands side sit 15th in the Championship and have been resurgent under Mowbray in recent weeks. When Eustace was sacked in October, the club had been in the play-off places but cited a 'misalignment with leadership'.

Carsley has been touted as a potential interim boss after his success winning the European Championship with his England under-21 team last summer. He is somewhat of a Birmingham City hero, having racked up over 50 appearances for the club as a player and gone on to coach the club's youth side - he even oversaw three matches in charge as a caretaker in 2017.

The 49-year-old began his coaching career at Coventry City before moving to Brentford in 2014. Carsley worked with the Development Squad at the Bees and was interim head coach in 2015, winning the Championship Manager of the Month Award in October.

In August 2016, the coach was appointed as the Manchester City under-18 manager and enjoyed a successful stint before his return to St Andrew's in 2017.