Gary Rowett: Birmingham can revive from 8-0 hammering
- Published
Rowett 'couldn't turn Birmingham down'
New Birmingham manager Gary Rowett says that the struggling Championship club can "regenerate" from last Saturday's 8-0 record home defeat by Bournemouth.
"I've not even mentioned the weekend to the players," said Rowett at his introductory news conference.
"Sometimes a group of men maybe need to be brought to rock bottom to regroup and regenerate."
Former Blues player Rowett, 40, was appointed as Lee Clark's successor on Monday, joining from League Two Burton.
He added: "As a player I twice lost 7-1. You can start crying or roll up your sleeves."
And he said he feels he understands what is needed at St Andrew's.
BBC WM's Richard Wilford on Twitter |
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"Very impressive opening media conference from Gary Rowett. Positive about the challenge ahead. Thrilled to have got the job." |
"I understand the trials and tribulations of being a Birmingham City player, just as much as the benefits of being a Birmingham City player," Rowett said.
"But I learned lots off the likes of Trevor Francis, Steve McClaren and Jim Smith in my time as a player.
"Jim was a master at man-management. You'd go in to his office in a rage and come out laughing, wondering just how he'd been able to do it."
Peschisolido on Rowett's return to Blues |
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"It's definitely a good move. Birmingham are in dire straits. They're near the bottom of the table. They've perhaps bought in players who are not of Championship standard. But there's kind of only one way they can go and Gary Rowett's one of the few who could go in and make a difference with no money. He's a real student of the game, always reading books to challenge and improve himself." Former City player and Burton manager Paul Peschisolido, talking to BBC Radio Derby |
Rowett is well aware that struggling Blues are not as well off as when the defender's sale to Leicester City went through in 2000 - bringing the club a then-record fee of £3.5m.
"You need stability to work," he told BBC WM. "And I had reassurances on certain areas, particularly the team, that I have got the funds to strengthen straightaway.
"I've not got a magic wand to to bring 10 players in. I'm not talking about massive amounts. Just can we strengthen where we need to strengthen?
"I will just try to do what I've done at Burton for the past two and a half years. I will try to manage the club as though as it's my own money, so I won't waste any."
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