Big Birmingham City, Chris Davies sack update emerges - it involves Michael Carrick | OneFootball

Michael Carrick is reportedly in contention to potentially take over from Chris Davies at Birmingham City

Chris Davies' future at Birmingham City has become the subject of scrutiny and uncertainty in recent times and, with pressure growing on the under-fire head coach, it has emerged that Michael Carrick is a chief contender to potentially take the reins at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

That's according to a fresh update from Football Insider on Saturday afternoon, which has described the ex-Middlesbrough boss as a "leading contender" to take over if Davies is relieved of his duties by ambitious owners Knighthead Capital Management.

Little secret was made of Birmingham's bullish ambitions to compete for successive promotions from League One to the Premier League after returning to the Championship with a stunning triple-figure points haul, which preceded yet another summer of lavish spending in the transfer market on a host of eye-catching arrivals including German international Marvin Ducksch, Kyogo Furuhashi and Demarai Gray.

However, Blues have struggled to assert similar dominance in the Championship and have often been undone by their own inconsistency alongside the division's third-worst record away from home.

Davies' side had appeared to be turning a corner following a mixed start to life back in the second-tier, but have now lost three of their last five outings across a difficult festive period to fall down to 15th in the table, albeit just six points shy of sixth-placed Bristol City, at the campaign's mid-way point, and that could force the club's top-brass into action.

Michael Carrick could take over from Chris Davies at Birmingham City

Now, as per the aforementioned report, Carrick has surfaced as a prime contender to become Knighthead's latest managerial hire, should they decide to part ways with Davies amid "huge doubt" surrounding the 40-year-old's future in the Second City.

It's said that the pressure on Davies has only intensified in the wake of Blues' frustrating Boxing Day home draw with John Eustace's Derby County, with his side next in action against fellow promotion hopefuls Southampton on Monday evening.

Just last week, Football Insider reported that Birmingham had begun formulating a shortlist of potential successors to Davies, who was said to require six points from home encounters against Derby and Southampton in order to retain his job.

With Davies now appearing to find himself edging ever closer to the sack, it's claimed that Carrick is a top target for Blues as they mull over replacements in the dugout.

Carrick, whose name has been brandished about by a number of Birmingham supporters online in recent times, remains out of work following his dismissal from Middlesbrough over the summer.

The former Manchester United midfielder led Middlesbrough to the play-offs courtesy of an electric run of form after taking over during the 2022/23 campaign but failed to take them into the top-six again following defeat to Coventry City in that season's semi-final.

A disappointing 10th-placed finish in the previous campaign ultimately saw Carrick lose his job, although he still remains an attractive candidate and could soon find himself back in the Championship with Blues.

Michael Carrick would offer Birmingham City continuity if Chris Davies sack call is made

It's no significant surprise to see that Carrick's name is central in the thinking of Birmingham's key decision-makers right now, with the 43-year-old bearing many stylistic parallels to Davies.

Much like Davies, he's also a progressive head coach who favours a patient, possession-based style of play, and that would provide much-needed continuity to a squad designed and coached to play a certain way.

The notable drawback would be the defensive frailties that Middlesbrough were prone to under his stewardship, while there is also a school of thought that Birmingham need to be more aggressive, dynamic and front-footed to unlock the wealth of talent in the squad's possession, but Carrick's considerable Championship experience means that he could be an ideal potential successor to Davies, too.