City chiefs are back at crossroads

INEVITABLY when a manager or head coach leaves a football club and Birmingham City have a modicum of experience in such situations – the first question is whether he jumped or was pushed.

Pep Clotet is the latest man to vacate the hottest seat in the Championship – the sixth to do so in three-and-a-half years – or at least he will when the season finishes towards the end of July. Blues have nine games remaining and just a little work to do to make sure they are in the second tier when he goes.

This latest change of management, a year after Garry Monk was most definitely sacked, has a different feel to it – and seems very much a decision of Clotet’s making.

The Spaniard has done a good job since being thrust into the aforementioned seat last June when he had to find a way through the loss of the club’s captain, leading scorer and record signing as Michael Morrison, Che Adams and Jota all departed.

He was charged with implementing a change in playing style, based around young home-grown players while mounting a tilt for the play-offs.

He’s made some progress towards the first two but perhaps the final demand was always going to be too high an expectation.

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Hogan’s career and launching of Jude Bellingham’s will be Clotet’s legacy, for as long as either are connected to Birmingham City.

And through it all he has conducted himself with integrity and – at least publicly – growing assertiveness.

From both sides it seems the tone of Blues’ statement sums up the situation accurately, Clotet will leave with his reputation enhanced – barring a complete car crash before the end of the season – and having served Blues well leaving the club as a ‘friend’.

In the end it might be a good move for both parties but at the moment Birmingham City find themselves back at the same crossroads to which so many routes have led since Trillion Trophy Asia took over the club.

BRIAN DICK