'I will 100% back him' - Birmingham City backed to appoint ex-Brentford boss to replace Chris Davies | OneFootball

Blues have reportedly identified their former midfielder as a potential replacement for Chris Davies

Birmingham City's first season back in the Championship hasn't exactly gone according to the script, and with less than a month of it to go, Chris Davies' side have very little but pride to play for.

After coasting to the League One title in Davies' first season at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park and, indeed, his first ever campaign as a full-time manager, plenty was expected of Blues given their financial muscle under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management.

Despite continuing to receive ample backing from the likes of Tom Wagner in the boardroom when it comes to resources in the transfer market and during periods where sack calls have emerged, Birmingham's campaign has well and truly fizzled out in the last month, having recorded just two wins in their last 10 league matches.

There is now the possibility of the West Midlands outfit finishing the lowest out of the three sides who were promoted out of League One last season, with Wrexham pushing for a potentially staggering fourth promotion in a row through the play-offs, whilst Charlton Athletic have also enjoyed a respectable season under Nathan Jones after being tipped for an immediate relegation back in August.

Unsurprisingly, many Bluenoses have grown beyond frustrated with Davies' management and tactics during an alarming run of results and performances, leading to calls that he will be replaced once the season runs its course.

And, it has now emerged that Lee Carsley could be the man to replace him at St. Andrew's, according to Football Insider.

Mixed Birmingham City stance offered on potential Lee Carsley appointment in place of Chris Davies

The aforementioned report claims that Carsley is a close ally to Blues' director of football, Craig Gardner, and that he has emerged as a 'top contender' should the vacancy become available, albeit Gardner, like Davies, is reportedly feeling the heat when it comes to the security of his own position.

Carsley is no stranger to Blues, though, admitting that his first-ever football match was attended at St. Andrew's, before playing 53 times for the club between 2008 and 2010, during which he was a key part of Alex McLeish's Championship promotion-winning side of 2008/09.

The 52-year-old also performed the roles of head professional development coach, interim manager and assistant manager during the chaotic 2017/18 season, before leaving in March 2018 following Steve Cotterill's sacking, and it is believed that he would be open to a return as boss this time around.

These days, Carsley is best-known for his double-winning European Championship feats with England's Under-21s sides, which included a victory over Germany last summer, as current Blues players, James Beadle and Jay Stansfield were a part of the squad.

Despite his obvious links to the club, Football League World's Blues fan pundit, Jason Moore, isn't overly excited by this potential appointment, but admits that he will back Carsley if Knighthead see him as Davies' ideal replacement.

"I've seen the links getting stronger and stronger and stronger, Moore told FLW.

"He's not on my list of people I want. But, I'm not someone who actively works in football, so someone might see something in Lee Carsley that I don't.

"At this point, I will take anyone, which sounds ridiculous. I just don't want Chris Davies (in charge next season)," he stated.

"If they've identified their man, and Lee Carsley's their man to replace Chris Davies, bring him in.

"I know fans would be excited by Lee Carsley. Personally, I'm not 'jumping off my seat' at it. But, if he's their man, I'll 100% back him to the moon," Moore added.

"It doesn't fill me with excitement, but I will 100% back him.

"At this point, I would just take Chris Davies being let go, because it's just not worked. If he's their man, I'll back him."

Lee Carsley would hope to translate international success if appointed at Birmingham City

It remains to be seen if Carsley is the man who could replace Davies in the weeks to come, particularly depending on Gardner's own future as director of football at St. Andrew's.

Although the former Republic of Ireland international has enjoyed success on the international stage with the Young Lions, his only permanent prior experience of full-time Championship management came with Brentford between September and November 2015, where he won five out of 10 matches before being replaced by Dean Smith.

We have also seen mixed fortunes from other managers when it comes to their results on the club and international fronts, with Sir Gareth Southgate suffering relegation from the Premier League to the Championship with Middlesbrough in 2009, before going on to reach a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals with England between 2016 and 2024.

Therefore, it would be another gamble from Knighthead, but they have shown previously that they are an ownership group unafraid to take risks.