City owner set to hold talks at club

Future of CEO, manager and squad’s injury woes look likely to dominate agenda

STEVE Lansdown is set to fly into Bristol this week for the first time in more than a year, to address growing uncertainty at Ashton Gate in the boardroom and the dugout.

The Bristol City owner has been in Guernsey since the pandemic struck with the Robins majority shareholder having not attended a game since the 1-1 draw with Fulham on March 7, 2020.

Business has been conducted via

Zoom and with telephone contact to chairman Jon Lansdown, CEO Mark Ashton and first Dean Holden and now manager Nigel Pearson.

The Western Daily’s sister website Bristol Live understands Lansdown, pictured, has in-person meetings scheduled this week at Ashton Gate to try and bring some stability to the club and resolve a number of fundamental issues in BS3.

There are three primary concerns within the club, firstly the future of Ashton who is wanted by the new owners at Ipswich Town as the Tractor Boys CEO. Ashton is a hugely influential and important figure at

City, tasked with the day-to-day running of the club, a role that has become more significant during the pandemic. His departure, whether it be before the end of the season or in May, would leave a sizeable void.

The 49-year-old not only leads the recruitment department, with planning underway for the summer transfer window, but also contract decisions and negotiations with 14 first-team players free agents in June.

Ashton’s long-term colleague and friend Mike O’Leary has been appointed as chairman at Ipswich following last week’s takeover by a group of US investors. O’Leary is said to be considered as a “mentor-like figure” to Ashton. Then there are the