In the bottom half of the Championship, the managerial merry-go-round is still spinning with just a handful of fixtures left to be played this season.
That’s certainly the case at Watford with a permanent manager still to be announced, although the Hornets may have found their number one candidate in League One.
Watford feature alongside Millwall and Leeds United in your Tuesday Championship round-up.
Former Millwall manager Gary Rowett is ‘in talks’ with Birmingham City to make a sensational temporary return to management. The 50-year-old would become the fourth person to take charge of the Blues first team this season, following John Eustace, Wayne Rooney, Tony Mowbray and caretaker Mark Venus.
Sitting just one place and level on points with the relegation zone, it’s crunch time for Birmingham City ahead of next week’s visit to fellow strugglers QPR. Rowett has been out of work since leaving Millwall last October and would be tasked with finding immediate results to keep the club in the league.
The ex Derby County star spent four years at The Den and left by mutual consent last year. He said: “If I’m being honest, it just felt the right time. You know as a manager and you know as a club – it just feels like it needs something a little different.
“That was kind of fundamental to the decision. It was a mutual thing. I know sometimes people say: ‘Oh, he’s been sacked and that’s how they have put it out’ – but it genuinely was [mutual].”
Watford turn attention to League One manager
Watford are another Championship club with a temporary boss at the helm. Tom Cleverley is currently in charge of the side on an interim basis following the sacking of Valerien Ismael earlier this month.
It remains to be seen who is appointed the next Watford manager in the ever-revolving door of bosses and Football Insider reports that attention had been turned to Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney. The 41-year-old has turned heads with his work at the DW Stadium, with the club in the top half of League One despite an eight-point deduction at the start of the campaign.
Maloney previously managed Scottish Premiership side Hibernian having hung up his playing boots in 2017 following a stint at Hull City.
Leeds United risk losing £10m deal
Leeds United are said to be risking a deal with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach falling through due to their valuation of Max Wöber.
The Austrian is on loan in Germany this season and has been a regular for Monchengladbach, with the club reportedly wanting to make a deal for the player permanent this summer. Leeds United are open to the move with Wöber not in Farke’s plans but need to be careful with their demands.
That’s according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, who claims that Leeds United want around £10 million for the defender. The reporter claims that the fee is ‘currently unrealistic’ for Monchengladbach with the Championship club potentially being too greedy with their valuation.
