Tom Wagner can’t ignore Wolves evidence as new Birmingham City, Chris Davies alternative emerges | OneFootball

Rob Edwards has become the latest name to be linked with the Blues job

Birmingham City's short and long-term aspirations have been made clear under Knigthead Capital Management's ownership, and they will hope this season is the one in which promotion back to the Premier League could be achieved.

Blues have spent 15 years outside the Premier League, often residing in the Championship's lower reaches during that time, as well as falling even lower into League One as recently as two years ago.

However, a year-long spell in the third tier only fuelled Tom Wagner's desire to make his rebuilding task at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park a successful one.

The club's American investors have since given Chris Davies tremendous backing on the pitch and in the transfer market, although that hasn't meant that the Blues boss' current stint has always been smooth sailing.

Despite a 10th-placed finish last season, the 41-year-old was the subject of sack calls and speculation at various points, and that hasn't exactly dissipated at the start of the current campaign despite the fact encouraging signs have been shown.

Birmingham City have had a mixed but encouraging start to the 2026/27 season

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Last season was one of mixed fortunes for Birmingham, with many expecting a sustained play-off push to be mounted due to high spending in the two transfer windows.

However, this summer saw only a select number of players added to Davies' squad, with there being a strong focus on the fact many of his pre-existing players will be better off after a year of experience in the second tier.

Blues were let down massively by their away record last term, and that has certainly been rectified with early-season victories at Wrexham and Derby County, whilst also holding Sheffield United to a goalless draw on the opening day.

And despite a 6-1 hammering by Brentford in the EFL Cup, Davies would argue his side should have taken more than the three points that they have done at St. Andrew's this season, impressing against Southampton and in the second period against newly-relegated Wolves in particular.

But, this hasn't stopped the outside noise from fading away.

Fresh Chris Davies, Birmingham City replacement calls have emerged involving ex-Wolves boss

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Indeed, some Blues fans had grown frustrated with Davies after the Brentford loss, but have since been encouraged by a change in style which has yielded strong performances and results, despite a controversial first league defeat at Norwich City on September 9th.

Therefore, it came somewhat out of the blue that, depending on the result at Derby and the upcoming tie with Middlesbrough, reports surfaced that he could lose his position and potentially be replaced by one of Sean Dyche and Scott Parker - both of whom boast impressive promotion experience.

Even after the comeback win at Pride Park, it has since emerged that Rob Edwards, another promotion winner with Luton Town, has emerged on Knighthead's radar and that of Premier League side, Crystal Palace, with newly-appointed Pierre Sage getting off to a poor start at Selhurst Park.

Birmingham City fans wouldn't be encouraged by Rob Edwards' Wolves record

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Although Edwards initially worked wonders at Kenilworth Road, proving his prior sceptics wrong after being relieved of his duties by their bitter rivals Watford in 2022, the 43-year-old's stock isn't exactly in the highest place at this moment in time.

Even though Luton were competitive in the Premier League, they fell short of survival, before the Telford-born boss was unable to halt a further slide and a parting of ways was confirmed in January 2025 with the Hatters sitting 20th in the Championship.

Despite this, Edwards was offered a reprieve at Middlesbrough. But after kickstarting the Reds' promotion push, which ended in play-off controversy and heartbreak, he received plenty of criticism for his decision to move to Wolves after less than five months in charge.

The Old Gold and Black's position at the foot of the Premier League was already perilous, and whilst there were bright sparks such as the emergence of Mateus Mane, it took the club until January 3rd to record the first of just three league victories all season as they finished on 20 points, with Edwards being replaced by Cesar Peixoto in June.

Birmingham City should learn from past mistakes as Rob Edwards talk emerges

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This isn't the first time intriguing managerial circumstances have come to the fore in B9 in the season's early parts under Knighthead, and many Birmingham supporters would hope Wagner and Co. have learned from their prior mistakes.

Three years ago, John Eustace had Blues sat sixth in the Championship heading into the October international break before the currently under-fire Derby boss was replaced by Wayne Rooney, with the American owner later admitting an error of judgement as the club fell into League One after a campaign which saw six permanent or temporary head coaches in the dugout.