Bristol City manager target ‘not in running’ for job as ‘strong contender’ emerges

Bristol City’s Championship rivals Millwall are in the same process of finding a new first-team manager.

The South London club have been on the search for a new manager after Gary Rowett’s departure from Millwall 13 days ago. He left by mutual consent and since then they’ve been in discussions with various men who who have registered their interest in the role.

According to the South London Press, former Birmingham City manager John Eustace is NOT in the running for the vacancy at The Den. It makes for good news to City, who are said to have him on their three-man shortlist to replace Nigel Pearson.

Millwall held ‘initial talks’ with 10 candidates last week and with Eustace not one of them, it makes the process of City speaking to Eustace a little more easier. Telegraph journalist John Percy meanwhile says that Nathan Jones is emerging as a ‘strong contender’ for the job after impressing during talks.

Millwall have other candidates to sift through, but Jones is regarded as a ‘good fit’ and that means both Eustace, and former Wolves defender Kevin Muscat are ‘unlikely at this stage’.

Eustace, along with Rowett and Nathan Jones were reported to be the Robins’ three main candidates according to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett. The application process remains open however and interested parties are still able to register their interest in taking the Ashton Gate hotseat, though club chairman Jon Lansdown did reveal they had some names in mind.

City chairman Jon Lansdown stated the club were on the lookout for someone who is progressive, on the front foot, and will make City a pressing team. He was aware of the fan backlash after Pearson’s sacking, and both he and Tinnion opened up on what the next steps are.

Brian Tinnion, the clubs technical director who will play a key role in finding Pearson’s successor said: “We want to be a front foot team that attacks teams and I think that’s what the fans want to see as well, and that’s what we want to see as a football club.

“The next head coach who comes into this football club has got to develop this team into how we want to play as a football club.

“Everybody in the summer was happy with how we recruited,” Tinnion said.

“It’s a squad that should be at the top end of the division so there’s a lot of belief in the building, a lot of belief in the staff and that’s a definite for us this season, to be in the top end.”