Craig Gardner ‘set to leave’ Birmingham after five years in senior roles | OneFootball

Craig Gardner is reportedly set to leave Birmingham City after five years in senior off-field posts.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 39-year-old has been central to Blues’ recruitment and has most recently served as director of football at St Andrew’s.

He spent three seasons with West Bromwich Albion, two as a regular Premier League midfielder, scoring six goals in 86 appearances. Part of his third spell was a Championship loan to Blues, followed by a permanent return in 2017 and retirement in 2020 after a player-coach role.

He briefly reunited with Tony Pulis at Sheffield Wednesday in 2020, a stint that lasted a month. Gardner rejoined Blues in 2021 and was appointed technical director in June that year.

He held that post for four years before a switch to director of football last year, after the club’s return to the second tier following League One promotion.

He has been credited with a key role in Knighthead’s takeover in July 2023, after which the American ownership expanded the recruitment team around him. Reports of his departure have yet to be confirmed.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com