09 October 2023 , 11:21
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Thanks for everything, John, but at the same time, thanks for nothing.
That's effectively what the new Birmingham City hierarchy have told John Eustace following their decision to axe their highly-rated head coach.
Knighthead Capital have only been in situ at St Andrew's for a little over three months, but surely they should be aware more than anyone of the dire situation they inherited in the summer. Perhaps they have forgotten that Eustace was the one who had to actually work in those circumstances last year. And not only did he keep the beleaguered Blues out of the relegation dogfight when nobody gave them a hope of survival, he actually guided them to their joint-best finish since 2015/16.
Perhaps they merely do not care, given it was in the pre-KC era.
Of course, further progress has been made this season following a summer of investment - something which makes the timing of this change even more peculiar. Knighthead backed Eustace in the transfer market and the Blues new-look team have made a storming start to the season, sitting in sixth place in the Championship, well above expectation.
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However, it now seems that Wayne Rooney, not Eustace, is destined to lead Birmingham for the remainder of the season.
But, why now? Certainly, it's believed that Knighthead chief Tom Wagner wants a bigger, sexier, name at the helm, someone who brings with him greater attention to St Andrew's. But the brutal statement Birmingham issued on Monday morning paints a fairly damning and remarkable picture.
Citing the importance of "implementing a winning mentality and a culture of ambition" in the very first line of said statement could hardly be any clearer. The club's new regime have far bigger, grander aspirations than treading water in the Championship and want to be going all guns blazing for promotion immediately. Forget the astonishing pace Leicester and Ipswich are setting at the top. Forget that Eustace has led them into sixth and the playoff spots - admittedly at this early juncture.
Join the debate! Do you think Birmingham have got it wrong? Let us know here.
Eustace was dismissed despite the fact Birmingham are currently sixth in the Championship (Phil Oldham/REX/Shutterstock)Whether it's fair or not (spoiler: it's not) they have decided, after 10 games, that Eustace is not the man to cultivate their desired culture, that he doesn't believe he can get them where they want to go as quickly as they would like to. But then again, who is to say that Rooney can?