The club have posted the following statement on bcfc.com.
The Club has today parted company with Manager Gary Rowett.
Gary’s contract, and those of his backroom staff – Kevin Summerfield, Mark Sale, Kevin Poole and Darren Robinson – have been terminated with immediate effect.
This has not been an easy decision to make.
The Board would like to thank Gary and his backroom staff for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future.
Gary came in and immediately stabilised the team amid difficult circumstances and during his tenure improved the Club’s fortunes on the field.
He has conducted himself professionally on behalf of the Club at all times and there is a genuine sadness at this course of action.
However, new owners Trillion Trophy Asia Limited (TTAL) remains determined to lead the Club to a bright and exciting future.
Supporters can rest assured that the decision has been taken with a strategic, long-term view and with the Club’s best interests at heart.
An immediate replacement will be sought in order to afford the new manager the time to assess where the existing playing squad needs strengthening. The Board recognises the urgency required given that the transfer window will open at the start of January and funds have been made available.
TTAL has been involved with the Club for more than 18 months and has reviewed all playing and non-playing matters during that period.
Club Director Panos Pavlakis, on behalf of the Board, said: “Such a parting of the ways is always difficult, particularly so on a personal level as I have worked very closely with Gary and have got to know him well. Our relationship was very strong but in football you can never stand still.
“I would ask that our supporters trust our judgement and look forward to and embrace the future as we begin to implement the exciting vision of TTAL.”
The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.
Birmingham City Board of Directors
While I am prepared to support the club that they will take us forward, I just find the decision to do this now really odd. Surely the decision to relieve him of his duties had nothing to do with on the pitch results. Yes we lost two games in a row without scoring and shipped 7 goals, but prior to that had been unbeaten at home since August against Wolves and had only lost 2 away. We returned to winning ways last night against Ipswich too of course.
As fans, I doubt we will really know what has happened, but the timing does seem strange. I believe there have been some additions to the board just recently, may be that is significant. Nobody outside of a workplace really knows what working relationships are like and may be there were already strains there. I have no idea. One thing is for sure though, the club have set a challenge to fans to support them after firing a popular manager. They will have to pull all the stops out to overcome the negativity I have seen on social media, emails and conversations I have had with fellow Bluenoses.
Whatever the reason, the decision IS made, so I guess we will need to get behind the new guy. We have a really busy period coming up, so they will get plenty of opportunity to get involved!
I would like to go on the record thanking Gary for steering the side through some very stormy waters after the departure of Lee and for making us a stronger proposition in the league. I wish him and his team well in whatever they do next. (Except when they are playing us!)
Kev
Image of GR used with kind permission of BCFC.
I think it’s an absolutely ridiculous decision to sack a manager who is rated so highly in football as a young manager and everything he has done for us we are looking at something special since the idiot Carson has disapeard and now it’s being stamped all over all the work he has done seems for nuthink he’s been loyal to blues after a few clubs tried to sign him I think this decision is a JOKE for all blues fans WE WANT ROWETT BACK WE WANT ROWETT BACK
Absolutely gutted! Was doing a fantastic job with a squad which was always improving and just needed that 1 or 2 extra quality that would give us that extra push, best manager we have had down the blues for a few years!
Good luck Gary!
Makes the club look absolutely ridiculous, what on earth is the reason to sack the best manager the club has had, I can only assume that the new owners have no clue as to how to run a football club. Carson Yeung has returned in a different guise? I am thoroughly disgusted with the board – they haven’t a clue!
Just doesn’t make any sense. He’s never really had the money to buy the players he wanted and has done very well with what he’s got. I don’t understand rewarding success with failure. Good luck to him, he doesn’t deserve this.
Gary Rowett is a great manager. I hope he goes on to bigger and better things and gets the success and appreciation he deserves. I’m finished with BCFC. Zola out!
We all know that Rowett has been working at BCFC. with his hands tied behind his back. I can’t think of another manager, who could have got a group of players, with only average ability, so high in the table. He must have been quite confident, that with a few million to spend in January, he would have got this club, at least into the play offs. The new manager, has got a good base to work from, so he will be hard pressed, to improve the situation. If he doesn’t hit the ground running he might find hard times ahead. Big Sam, would be a good choice, despite his problems.
TTA are taking their position in football to the extreme, whether this will work or whether this will ruffle too many feathers to work we will have to see, I personally am gutted at Gary Rowett’s sacking as I believed it was his coaching staff was a little weak rather than him…flair football will get the crowds back and Zola may have many top class contacts but I still feel as if I have let a member of the family down…..
Another thing to go into denial about…first Brexit, now this