Leicester City are reportedly interested in hiring Liam Manning
Former Aston Villa and Sheffield United midfielder has claimed that he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ to see Bristol City lose manager Liam Manning to a promotion rival this summer. Manning joined City from Oxford United in November 2023 and has helped the Ashton Gate side climb from a mid-table outfit under Nigel Pearson into a team competing in the upper echelons of the Championship table.
The 39-year-old is credited with leading the Robins to a sixth place finish last term and a place in the Championship play-offs for the first time since 2007/08 while largely operating on a budget which is significantly lower than many of the teams around them such as Middlesbrough, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion.
His pursuit of promotion ended with a 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sheffield United, with the Blades simply having too much quality for the Cider Army on both evenings at Ashton Gate and Bramall Lane. However, on the whole it’s viewed as a strong season which can be built on successfully with further investment as the city aims to finally realise its Premier League dream after a 45-year-wait for top-flight football.
Leicester City consider move for Liam Manning
Manchester United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to leave the King Power Stadium after a run of five victories in 26 matches in charge of Leicester City. The Foxes are heading back to the Championship just 12 months after winning the title and will be tasked with bouncing back from a second relegation in three years without the goal-scoring prowess of Jamie Vardy.
The incoming boss will be tasked with getting the club back to its former glory by winning promotion from a competitive division packed with talented teams. A number of names such as Danny Rohl and Russell Martin have been linked with the vacancy but one of the frontrunners is thought to be Bristol City’s Liam Manning.
Commenting on the speculation, Lee Hendrie told Football League World: “Liam Manning is linked with the Leicester and Norwich jobs…I think he has proved what a great season he has had, with probably a limited budget. I think you do have to take that in mind, with what he does. His style of play, as well, I think suits probably both of those football clubs.
“The other thing is, is whether Bristol City would or could invest maybe more to take that next step from what they have achieved this season with Liam, because he is a very good head-coach. He has definitely got the right temperament to maybe take that step-up to maybe a Leicester or a Norwich.”
Is Liam Manning likely to leave Bristol City?
Liam Manning has been hugely successful since taking over from Nigel Pearson and has seen his stock rise after implementing a much more attractive style of football than his predecessor.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that he is under consideration for the Leicester job and Norwich vacancy but it’s not yet clear if he’s the preferred candidate. Manning’s future at Ashton Gate could well depend on the ambition of the board and if they are willing to back him in the transfer window after a subdued January in terms of incomings.
Hendrie added: “No disrespect to Bristol City, but I think if you have got a manager that has given you some form of success, which to a certain extent it is, you have to start looking at can they build on what they have achieved this season.
“I’m not sure if that’s going to be the case with Bristol City, so that’s when a temptation will always lie with the manager, because managers always want to get promotions and win cups and trophies. He’s learnt a lot, and is another manager who is taking those steps forward. I’ve been really impressed with what he has done.
“It wouldn’t surprise me (if he left). I think more so Leicester wouldn’t be a bad shout. Obviously, Norwich are going to lose players and are going to need to invest, so I think at this current time they wouldn’t be far off being in a similar situation to what Bristol City are in. So I think the Leicester one might tempt him, more so.”
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