Gary Rowett, manager of Millwall during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Millwall at the Pride Park, Derby on Wednesday 23rd February 2022. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto)
Gary Rowett will do every effort to elevate Blues to a higher level.
The 50-year-old was welcomed back to the Club on Tuesday, taking on the role of Interim Manager while manager Tony Mowbray took a formal medical leave of absence that will last until the commencement of the 2024–2025 preseason.
In 2023–24, he will oversee the final eight Sky Bet Championship games. First Team Technical Coaches Paul Robinson and Dave Carolan, who both had previous experience with Birmingham City and worked with Rowett at Millwall, will assist him in this role.
The three will be on the touchline for Preston North End’s visit to St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Monday, April 1, at 3 p.m., and the interim manager is not willing to leave anything to chance. The team will travel to Queens Park Rangers on Friday, March 29, at 3 p.m.
At the Birmingham City Elite Performance and Innovation Centre, he spoke with BluesTV on the importance of feeling good again and briefly outlined the steps needed to get there.
“My past with the Club is well known to all. It is, in my opinion, at its very best. I’ve experienced what it’s like to try to change things and know how beneficial it can be for all of the Club’s members. To be honest, trying to recapture some of that optimism was part of what drove me.
“The goal is really straightforward: win a few football games, make sure that nothing is overlooked, work to turn this club around, and demonstrate what I believe they are capable of.
“There are very few clubs and very few fanbases I would have come back to do this for, but Birmingham City is certainly one of those.”
The Club said that Rowett’s return was decided upon in consultation with Mowbray. The new manager made it plain that he would not have accepted the Challenge without the Gaffer’s approval. Rowett has both played and managed Blues in the past.
“I think it is the correct thing to do, so I spoke with Tony about it to make sure I had his approval and that he was involved in the process. In the football world, everyone hopes Tony heals quickly.
“Making sure we are a Championship football club when he returns is a part of my job and goal. I’m willing to take on the responsibility of this role through the end of the season in order to have a significant influence in our own unique manner.
“It was really important to me that Tony was part of that and I had a chance to have that conversation with him.”
