Birmingham City have confirmed Gary Rowett as their interim head coach — and Tony Mowbray will take a formal medical leave of absence until the start of the 2024-25 season.

Mowbray, 60, who replaced Wayne Rooney as Birmingham manager in January, has been undergoing medical treatment since February with assistant manager Mark Venus being placed in temporary charge.

Rowett has now been put in charge at Birmingham, who list NFL icon Tom Brady among their minority owners, for the remainder of the season.

The Athletic previously reported that the 50-year-old was in advanced talks for the role.

Birmingham City co-owner and chairman of the board Tom Wagner, said: “The board and club Leadership fully support Tony’s decision to take time to focus on his health and his family.

“We continue to wish Tony and his family the very best. Based on Tony’s decision to take some additional time away, we agreed it is in the club’s best interests to appoint Gary Rowett to lead the team forward from the touchline for the final eight games of the season.

“Gary is an experienced leader and has our full support.”

Rowett becomes the sixth separate person to take charge of Birmingham this season.

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The 50-year-old spent two years in charge of Birmingham between 2014 and 2016 and took the club from the outskirts of the relegation zone to challenging for the play-offs.

Birmingham have picked up just one point since Venus took charge and have slipped to 21st in the table, with just goal difference separating them from the relegation places.

US-based Shelby Companies Limited completed its takeover at St Andrew’s back in July with Brady announced as a minority investor in August.
Rowett departed Millwall by mutual consent in October with the club in 15th. The 50-year-old had spent four years at Millwall and led them to the brink of the play-offs last season.

He would follow Eustace, Rooney, Mowbray, Venus and Steve Spooner in taking charge of Birmingham this season.

Birmingham return to action on Friday with a trip to Queens Park Rangers.Birmingham return to action on Friday with a trip to Queens Park Rangers.

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