Championship clubs are already shaping the summer before this season has even fully played out, and Lincoln City fans will doubtless be interested.
The latest stories from around the second tier point in different directions, but they all tell the same wider tale. Some clubs are thinking about promotion pushes, some are trying to stay alive, and others are starting to put the building blocks in place for whatever comes next. Here is the latest Championship news roundup.
Birmingham City eye Thomas Frank as pressure grows on Chris Davies
Football League World claim Birmingham City could target former Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank if they decide to make a managerial change this summer, a report which underlines just how ambitious the club’s owners remain despite an underwhelming Championship campaign.
There is no getting away from the fact Birmingham were expected to make a much bigger splash this season. After storming out of League One with a record-breaking haul and then backing that up with a raft of eye-catching signings, there was a sense Blues were not just returning to the second tier, but arriving with a clear intention of pushing hard again. Instead, a 1-1 draw at Hull City left them 14th, and that position feels a long way short of the noise that surrounded them only a few months ago.
According to the report, Knighthead are considering what comes next if they do decide Chris Davies is not the man to carry the project forward. Frank would be an extraordinary target at Championship level, even allowing for Birmingham’s spending power and long-term vision. His stock remains high because of the work he did at Brentford, where he built a smart, competitive side and took the club into the Premier League.
The stumbling block, of course, is obvious. A manager of Frank’s profile is unlikely to be short of options, and there is nothing in the report to suggest his interest has advanced beyond Birmingham’s side thinking about the possibility.
Comments Welcome!