'Top target' to replace struggling ex-Bristol City boss emerges who's managed Coventry and Huddersfield
A former Bristol City boss has had a tough time so far this season, with a potential replacement already identified
Bristol City were forced into a fresh start at the beginning of this Championship season, but things are going well for new head coach Gerhard Struber thus far as the Robins are sitting pretty in fourth place in the league table.
The division appears to be extremely open this season if the opening months are anything to go by, and so this may end up being as good a chance as any for Bristol City to achieve their first-ever Premier League promotion. The three relegated sides are notably struggling, emphasised by a comfortable 3-1 victory for Struber’s men over Southampton on Tuesday night.
Things are not going so well for former boss Liam Manning, though, as his Norwich City side lost again on Tuesday to drop into the bottom three of the Championship. The Canaries may reportedly already be considering other managerial targets, amidst calls for Manning to be sacked should things not improve quickly.
Stoke’s Mark Robins considered as Manning replacement at Norwich
According to reports by talkSPORT, Stoke City manager and former Norwich hero Mark Robins has been earmarked as a ‘top target’ to replace Manning in the dugout at Carrow Road if the former Bristol City boss is sacked.
The Potters have begun the season strongly and currently sit in the top six, so would be highly opposed to losing their manager at this stage of the season. Norwich would hope to call upon strong club ties with Robins, who played for the Canaries as a striker in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup, to convince him of a risky move to manage his struggling former side.
Robins previously managed Coventry City and Huddersfield Town, enjoying a highly successful spell at the former as he led them from League Two to the Championship play-off final.
Manning departed Ashton Gate to join his boyhood club Norwich in the summer, despite leading the Robins to the play-offs in an outstanding 2024/25 season. His decision has thus far appeared to be an ill-advised one, made particularly apparent when his former side visited Carrow Road and left with all three points in a 1-0 victory.
‘Need to step up’ - Manning’s words after defeat to Bristol City
Manning spoke in harsh criticism of his own players after Norwich were beaten 1-0 by his former side the Robins earlier this month, substitute Mark Sykes scoring the only goal of the game to inflict a sixth consecutive home defeat on the Canaries.
Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk at full-time: "We need a few to start stepping up and owning performances because everything is just too nice around the place - we have to try and change that. There was some nice football but nothing at the end of it, not enough aggression, not enough purpose, not enough intent when you're losing a game to get on the front foot and change it.
"We try to give structure, we try to give clarity, but we also try to empower them to step on the pitch and take responsibility to make decisions - if the space is there to go in behind, go in behind and take the risk, if it's not then shorten it up.
"Too many people are passing on the responsibility and not being brave enough. I can't play the game for them, we can give them games plans and solutions, but the second the whistle blows you need people to step up."