Tony Mowbray: Ex-Sunderland boss remains Birmingham job favourite
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Tony Mowbray began his managerial career with Scottish club Hibernian in 2004
Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray is emerging as the favourite to take the manager's job at Birmingham City.
Blues sacked Wayne Rooney earlier this week after the former England star had managed just two wins in 15 matches during his 83 days in charge.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper and ex-Leeds manager Jesse Marsch were mentioned as potential candidates to take over.
But it is understood Mowbray has a lot of support among the club's hierarchy.
Appointing the 60-year-old would be a radical departure from the process that led to a celebrated figure like Rooney replacing John Eustace in October.
Steve Spooner was appointed interim boss at St Andrew's and was in charge for Saturday's FA Cup 1-1 third-round draw at Hull City.
But an experienced head is needed after Birmingham plummeted from sixth place to 20th in the Championship under Rooney - and Mowbray is now a very short-priced odds on with bookmakers.
"I've not heard anything," Spooner told BBC Radio WM after Saturday's game. "But it's not anything to do with me."
Spooner said it is not clear yet who will be in charge for next Saturday's home date with Swansea City.
"I will report for training on Monday with the players and the rest of the staff, unless I am told different."
Tony Mowbray's managerial record
Mowbray has a solid CV, having begun his managerial career north of the border with Hibernian almost 20 years ago.
If appointed by Blues, it would be his third job in the West Midlands, having also managed West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.
Having left Hibs to guide Albion to the Championship title in 2008, he then chose to go back to Scotland with Celtic.
But after three years with Middlesbrough, where he began his long playing career, he then had 18 months with Coventry from March 2015 to September 2016.
After six months out of the game, he then spent five years in charge of Blackburn Rovers before being appointed Sunderland boss last season.
He guided the Wearsiders to the play-offs, but they were beaten by eventual winners Luton Town in the semi-final and he was sacked on 4 December after a run of two wins in nine league games.