10 October 2023 , 12:59
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Birmingham City chief executive Garry Cook has defended the club's decision to part company with head coach John Eustace following a fan backlash.
Eustace, 43, was sacked by the club hierarchy just 15 months after joining the Blues on Monday morning, despite keeping the club clear of relegation last year amid a myriad of challenging off-field issues. Birmingham are currently sixth in the Championship heading into the international break following back-to-back league wins.
Former Derby County and DC United boss Wayne Rooney is expected to be confirmed as Eustace's successor imminently after being courted by the Blues in recent weeks.
In the brutal statement that confirmed Eustace's departure, Knighthead Capital - Birmingham's new owners - stressed the importance of fostering "a winning mentality" and a "culture of ambition". And in an open letter to fans, Cook has now made it clear that a "misalignment" between Eustace and the club's hierarchy was behind the decision to part company.
Speaking in a letter which was shared on the club's website, Cook wrote: "Yesterday morning I met with John Eustace in Birmingham and shared the reasons for the decision to part company. I thanked John for his hard work. I also told him that every Blues fan will be forever grateful for keeping the Club in the Sky Bet Championship last year.
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"Tom Wagner expressed to him when they spoke later in the day that if we had been relegated, Knighthead would not have invested in Birmingham. John will be forever remembered for this fact. I speak for all at the Club when wishing him the very best for the future.
"There is never a good time to make such a decision. You need to process all of the opinions and reach the best outcome for the future. Tom Wagner has been very clear with the ownership’s ambition for Birmingham City. It is to make the Club a beacon for sporting excellence and to proudly be at the centre of Birmingham’s community. There is a plan and every decision we take is with the Club's best interests at heart.
Join the debate! Do you think Birmingham will regret sacking Eustace? Let us know here.
Wayne Rooney is expected to replace Eustace at the helm imminently (AFP via Getty Images)"John had clear ambitions and goals for the season. Unfortunately, following a series of meetings over a number of months, it became clear that there was a misalignment with the leadership of the Club. When this happens, the best thing to do is to part company.
"The timing of the decision allows the incoming manager sufficient time to evaluate the playing staff ahead of the January and summer transfer windows."
Rooney's representatives have now opened discussions with Birmingham City over the vacant head coach role after he left a similar role at DC United over the weekend.
Shortly after that news had been confirmed, BBC 5 Live claimed that a deal to bring Rooney to St Andrew's was done, with two of his former teammates, Ashley Cole and John O'Shea, expected to join his new-look coaching staff in the coming days.