Birmingham City facing potential ‘tough’ Chris Davies decision after January | OneFootball

The future of Chris Davies at Birmingham City could come into question if they don't finish in the play-off places this season.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Chris Davies has been backed to have another year at Birmingham City even if they don’t win promotion to the Premier League this season.

Whilst Blues only won promotion from League One last season, there was an expectation that they could go again following the huge investment that has gone into the club over the past few years.

The Midlands outfit broke third tier records to strengthen the squad despite their relegation, and they have invested heavily in the previous two windows.

Chris Davies backed to stay at Birmingham City even if they don’t win promotion

Therefore, that brings pressure, and it had been claimed earlier in the campaign that Davies was fighting to keep his job at St. Andrew’s amid growing uncertainty over whether he could lead the team to the Premier League.

However, Blues stood by the former Spurs coach, and a six-game unbeaten run in the Championship suggests it was the right call, with Davies’ men now just two points away from the play-off places.

Yet, that speculation is sure to start once again if results dip, but when quizzed by FLW about whether Davies needs a top six finish to keep his job, Birmingham fan pundit Jason acknowledged the board may consider replacing him, but he insists their recent history shows they could benefit from keeping Davies around.

“It’s a tough one to call. I think after the whole John Eustace and Wayne Rooney appointments, I don’t think they’re going to pull the plug unless it goes really badly wrong.

“If we finished about 11th or 12th, I think that could cost Davies his job, but if we came 7th or 8th and had pushed for the play-offs, then maybe (he would stay). It’s a really difficult one, but I hope they don’t sack him and we stay loyal to him, and give him another season if we don’t make the top six.

“If we have two seasons at this level and we haven’t been promoted with our resources and finances, then call it a day and get rid.

“But, my heart says they won’t get rid if we don’t make the play-offs, purely because of the Rooney and Eustace debacle. They will want to back Davies, and they have done that in public, so I don’t think they will sack him.

“I think he’d have to lose every single game, genuinely, for the club to want to sack him. He actually came close to losing a lot of the fans, but they still didn’t want to get rid, so it would have to go really wrong, but that won’t happen with the money we’ve spent and the squad we’ve got.”

Birmingham City are making progress under Chris Davies

Given Birmingham’s financial muscle at this level, there is an expectation that they are in the mix to go up, and some would view finishing outside the play-offs as a failure.

So, that would naturally prompt discussion over whether Davies can take the next step with Blues, but it does seem harsh when you consider the progress the club have made since his appointment.

We know that money helps, but it does not guarantee success, so it would be very simplistic to say Davies must go if Birmingham fall short this season.

Ultimately, though, all connected to Blues will feel that promotion is very much possible this season.

The turnaround since the disappointing 3-0 loss at Watford on New Year’s Day has been hugely impressive, and the January additions have already shown their quality.

Of course, they still have a lot of work to do, but you get the feeling that Blues are finding momentum at the right time, and successive promotions can’t be ruled out.