Chris Davies has disclosed that he has been in discussions with some of Birmingham City’s key players, outlining his strategy to persuade them to remain with the club.
Birmingham’s relegation to League One epitomized the domino and snowball effects. Initially, John Eustace led the club to a strong start, but his unexpected dismissal while the team was in the playoffs, to make way for Wayne Rooney, triggered a chain reaction of failures. The situation deteriorated, culminating in their relegation after a 1-0 win over Norwich City was insufficient. Joe Edwards’ goal for Plymouth Argyle against Hull City sealed Birmingham’s fate. At the time, Gary Rowett was in charge due to Tony Mowbray’s absence.
With Knighthead’s vision in disarray, Davies and his team face significant challenges, starting with player retention. The club, now vulnerable to poaching by Championship teams, has many players who belong in the second tier, potentially prompting transfer requests.
Among those likely to consider leaving are international players like Krystian Bielik, Koji Miyoshi, and Paik Seung-ho, whose international careers could be impacted by playing in a lower league. Davies has spoken with Bielik and plans to convince players to stay by emphasizing the club’s future prospects. He stated, “I’ve had a couple of conversations, but more will occur when the players return. My message is that I’m here because this club is going places. We may be in League One now, but we have a clear vision and direction, and I want the players to be part of that journey.”
Davies aims to assure the players that despite the relegation, the club’s ambition remains strong, and staying could be beneficial for their careers. This message will be crucial as he tries to keep the squad intact, particularly with the January transfer window as a potential turning point. If the team is not in contention for promotion by then, more players may seek to leave.