Tony Mowbray has stood down as Birmingham City manager with immediate effect.
The former West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland boss temporarily stepped away from his “on-site management duties” back in February before taking formal medical leave and being replaced by Gary Rowett a month later.
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He has now decided to resign from his role to focus on “making a full recovery from his surgery and spending time with his family.”
“Over the very recent days it has become apparent to me that I will not be fully fit to resume my duties as manager of Birmingham City in the timescale that would allow the club to best prepare for the forthcoming season and therefore, I have regrettably decided to step away from my role at this time,” Mowbray said in a statement.
“Once I have fully recovered and have spent some quality time with my family, I intend to make a return to football management at the appropriate moment. I hope that the privacy of my family and I will be respected at this time. Thank you for your ongoing support.”
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) May 21, 2024
Mowbray won four of his eight games in charge of the club following his arrival in January.
Owner and chairman, Tom Wagner, said: “We are disappointed that Tony will not be coming back to lead the team forward but respect his decision to put his health and his family first.
“In a short period of time at Blues Tony demonstrated excellent leadership skills and a work ethic that galvanised all around him. He is an outstanding human being and will always be welcome at St. Andrew’s.”
Birmingham were relegated to League One on the final day of the Championship season.
They beat play-off-bound Norwich City but saw rivals around them — Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle — all win to seal their demotion to the third tier for the first time in 30 years and for only the third time in their history.
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