Next Bristol City manager: ex-Swansea City boss enters the running as Rob Edwards eyed by Championship rivals
Bristol City are searching for a Liam Manning successor
Bristol City have experienced a new twist in their hunt for a new manager after Michael Carrick was relieved of his duties as head coach of play-off chasing rivals Middlesbrough.
The Robins pursuit of a new boss started last Tuesday when it was confirmed that Liam Manning, the man that inspired the club to a play-off place finish last season, had accepted an offer to join Norwich City after his release clause was activated by the Carrow Road outfit.
Speculation in the press had suggested that former Luton Town and Watford boss Rob Edwards was the leading candidate to replace Manning but it now appears Boro have stolen a march on the Ashton Gate side in that particular race with the 42-year-old joining Steve Cooper in the club’s leading list of managerial candidates.
Bristol City turn their attention to former Swansea City boss
Luke Williams, the former boss of Swansea City and Notts County, is understood to be one of the leading candidates for the Bristol City job after Liam Manning’s exit. Williams has been out of work since February when he was dismissed from his role in south-west Wales.
The 44-year-old, who spent time on the books of Bristol Rovers as a youth team player, decided to focus on coaching at a young age due to frequent knee injuries and started his coaching career at Leyton Orient and West Ham United before working as a development coach at Brighton. His first venture into management came at Swindon Town when he became interim boss in 2015 after spells as assistant to Mark Cooper, Lee Power and Martin Ling. He then signed a five-year contract as head coach after winning six of his 10 games in charge
Williams left Swindon by mutual consent after suffering relegation to League Two. He enjoyed a spell at Bristol City’s Under-23 coach and as MK Dons and Swansea City assistant under Russell Martin before returning to management with National League Notts County.
The London-born coach helped Notts County earned a club record-breaking 107 points in his first season in charge, the highest of any second place team in history, before winning promotion via the play-offs. He left County fifth in League Two five months later to assume the role of Swansea boss where he had mixed success. He steered the club away from relegation in his first six months but saw results unravel in his first full season and was dismissed in February after losing seven of his last nine games.
Williams' links to Bristol City and his strong attacking possession-based style of football make him a top candidate but his record at Swansea will raise some alarm bells with supporters.
Bristol City to consider swoop for Richie Wellens?
Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens, who was narrowly denied the chance to manage at this level after a play-off final defeat to Charlton, also looks to be among the leading contenders to replace Liam Manning.
Wellens enjoyed a stellar playing career at Championship level before beginning his coaching career at Oldham Athletic after being recommended by Paul Scholes. He was relegated with The Blues in 2018 but bounced back in his next job to lead Swindon Town to the League Two title in 2020.
He then had a mixed 30-game spell at Salford where despite leading the team to an EFL Trophy parted company with the club after a series of inconsistent results. Wellens was sacked by Doncaster after just 199 days in charge with the club 23rd in League Two but has once again bounced back with Leyton Orient where he won the fourth tier title in 2023 and established The O's as a top-level League One side after finishing 11th and then sixth in the table while only narrowly missing out on a second promotion in three years.
He’s renowned for playing an attractive brand of football and has made shrewd loan signings throughout his time in the capital including Charlie Kelman, Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley among others.