Birmingham City: Steve Spooner hopes to 'lift' Blues players following Wayne Rooney's exit
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Steve Spooner is in his second spell as Blues caretaker boss, having also taken charge for four games in July 2020
Birmingham City interim boss Steve Spooner is promising no miracles after being installed as caretaker manager at St Andrew's for the second time.
Spooner, 62, first took on the role in the Covid pandemic in July 2020 for the last four games of an already disrupted season after Pep Clotet's abrupt exit.
But he admits this will be a tough job trying to "galvanise" the players following Tuesday's sacking of Wayne Rooney.
Rooney's departure, itself a surprise given the timing of it, is the second change of Blues management this season, following John Eustace's shock sacking in October.
And, while speculation has already started on who might or who might not be a suitable successor to Rooney, it is yet to be seen what effect it will have on the Blues dressing room.
Already braced for a month of change following the opening of the January transfer window, now they face even more uncertainty going into Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Hull City, managed by Rooney's former assistant at Derby County, Liam Rosenior.
"There's been a lot of change," Spooner told BBC Radio WM. "John going, Wayne coming in, Wayne going again.
"But that's modern-day football. It happens at a lot of clubs. It's always the way. Some players like one manager. Some players don't like another.
"My job is just to try and galvanise everyone and lift everybody."
'Last time it was in Covid, with no fans and I didn't get any stick'
Spooner had a tough job on back in July 2020, when he inherited a team who had not won in 11 games.
The much-travelled former midfielder, who was born near London but racked up 500 career appearances mostly for clubs in northern England, managed just one point from his four games at the helm.
That was enough at least to help Blues finish two points clear of relegation from the Championship.
"Last time it was in Covid and there were no fans. Maybe that was a good thing," he joked. "As I didn't get any stick."
Jordan James celebrated four goals inside a month for Wayne Rooney's Birmingham City
He also says that this time, unlike in 2020, he has full responsibility as to who plays and that there is no outside interference, given the fact that the transfer window is open again and that there is already speculation over the future of several players, including Wales international Jordan James, external who has this week been linked with Italian club Atalanta.
"I had a little bit of that last time but this time it's down to me," added Spooner. "It's an important game as it's the next game, but Saturday is also an opportunity for the club to progress."
With that in mind, midfielder Krystian Bielik is due back after suspension - and Spooner will pick a strong team, mindful of the fate of the last time Blues went to the KC Stadium under a caretaker boss.
It was under Lee Carsley in September 2017, between Harry Redknapp and Steve Cotterill, who had been appointed but not taken charge - and Blues lost 6-1.
Rooney a big believer in young players
The reference to in-form midfielder James, who blossomed under Rooney, scoring four goals inside a month, and the recent emergence of Blues' latest discovery Romelle Donovan is also a reminder that Blues have lost a manager who was a big believer in their club's future first-team players.
As is only to be expected of an outstanding player who, in a week when 16-year-old stars are all the rage again, once made such a huge impact himself as a 16-year-old.
"Some managers have come in and don't want anything to do with the young players," said Spooner.
"But Wayne has been very accommodating. He was very interested in seeing the youngsters.
"We spoke at length about that and he'd been impressed with what he'd seen.
"It's always very nice when a manager comes in with a mind to the development side."
Birmingham City professional development coach Steve Spooner was talking to BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford