We’re not going to do anything without the supporters – Rowett
GARY Rowett has called on the Blues fans to lend their passion to the team – having previously had it turned on him.
That was in October 2018 when Rowett was in charge of Stoke and watched his side lose 1-0 to Garry Monk’s men. However, it wasn’t only Che Adams’ winner that irritated Rowett, it was the performance of referee Roger East, who denied the hosts a late penalty.
Rowett complained, was sent off, banned and fined for the disagreement – and the incident was given a slightly comical tinge when he had to walk down the tunnel by the Blues supporters at the bet365 Stadium – who gave him plenty of stick.
The 50-year-old is now back in charge at St Andrew’s, on an interim basis, and is looking forward to harnessing that Bluenose fervour to keep the team in the Championship. Rowett recalled the incident when asked about the role supporters can play in the final eight games, starting with Good Friday’s visit to QPR.
“The fans are crucial,” he said. “I didn’t think they were quite so crucial when they were booing me when I got sent off, I think against them for Stoke. But listen, that’s the fanbase and that’s how passionate they are and you expect that to happen.
“I know if they see what they want to see on the pitch, which is a team that shares their passion, shares their commitment but also plays. Birmingham City has had some fantastic footballers throughout the years, people who are brave enough to take the ball in areas that maybe some wouldn’t, showing the quality we need to show. We need a little bit of everything now.
“What I’d really say is we’re not going to do anything without the fans, so we need them behind us. We need them to get down to the stadium for the home games and support us away, for every minute of the game if they can, because that’s going to be huge.
“There’s going to be times when the crowd need the players to step up and there’s going to be a lot of times when the players need the crowd to step up for them – and I know they’ll do that. We have to make sure we do our part as well.
“That can translate to how many points you pick up. I’ve seen it at its very best. The first game we played many moons ago against Watford at home, and the team hadn’t won for a while and the atmosphere, I’ll never forget it. I can still imagine it now.
“So we need that and more, we’re not going to do it on our own, so I think it needs to be a club effort and a strong connection. This club’s at its best when there’s a strong connection between the fanbase and the players.”
Rowett admitted that seeing familiar faces and discovering the club has the same ‘feel’ as when he was last in charge has made his return to St Andrew’s that much smoother.
He was last in charge in 2016 and Lukas Jutkiewicz is the only remaining member of the squad he left behind when he was relieved of his duties. However, a number of individuals around the club are still there.
“The training ground is different, the owners are, of course, different and a few other people, but there are still some friendly faces around who were here when I was here as a manager,” he said. “The club has the same feel. It’s made it an easy transition, that’s why I’ve probably had the opportunity to come in and help out.
“I haven’t got long to make an impact. There are eight games so we have to hit the ground running. It’s a difficult situation they’re in. It’s my job to see what I can do for the last eight. It’s going to be a tough challenge but I’ll embrace that.”