Gary Rowett makes swift return to work after Birmingham City departure

Following Birmingham City’s recent relegation at the end of the season, Gary Rowett took a leave of absence. However, he has since returned to work, including the Sky Sports studio. Knighthead called Rowett back to the Blues as they tried to hold onto the Championship without Tony Mowbray, who has needed medical attention over the last few months.

Despite securing a respectable return of 11 points from those games, Blues across 46 matches hadn’t done enough, and League One now beckons following a difficult 13-year tenure in the second tier. Rowett, 50, was given eight matches to try to keep Blues in the level.Rowett is currently awaiting his next management opportunity after leaving Millwall earlier this season.

“I felt there was a potential of relegation, if you looked at the form,” Rowett remarked following the ultimately futile victory over Norwich eight games prior. “I was aware that I might be the one leading Birmingham City into League One as manager, but sometimes you have to shoulder a little bit of accountability and responsibility. If that means saving someone else from it, I’ll take it and accept it. I have wide shoulders.

Rowett is back in the Sky Sports studio for this weekend’s Gillette Soccer Saturday show, but for the time being he is waiting for the next job to come his way. He sat with pundits Clinton Morrison, Darren Bent, Paul Merson, Sue Smith, and broadcaster Simon Thomas as Wolverhampton Wanderers hosted Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Molineux.