Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 15 December 2025 19:30, UK

Chris Davies is feeling the pressure at Birmingham City after another draw at St Andrew’s on Saturday.

Birmingham considered sacking Davies in October, but a positive run of form saw decision-makers bite their tongues.

Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Charlton saw a third consecutive failure to take the three points, however, and pressure has been heaped back on the 40-year-old.

Birmingham owner Tom Wagner envisages a top-two finish this season, but the Blues currently sit 13 points behind second-placed Middlesbrough.

Last month, Birmingham announced plans to build a new 62,000-seater stadium, with ambition certainly not lacking.

Chris Davies leads Championship sack race

Favourites to replace Davies at Birmingham are already being named, with the former Celtic and Tottenham assistant manager under serious pressure.

But the Welshman will have significant credit in the bank with the Blues, and decision-makers will not be rushed into any decision.

Davies was hired by Birmingham in 2024 and led his side into the Championship as League One winners.

An expensive summer raised expectations for this season, and while recent results have failed to impress, the Blues remain in touching distance of the play-off places.

Yet pressure has intensified nonetheless in recent weeks, and Davies now finds himself leading the race for the next Championship sacking.

The Welshman’s odds of receiving the boot have shortened to 4/1, leading Ryan Mason at West Brom (5/1) and Gary Rowett at Oxford United (11/2) according to one major bookmaker.

Favourite Lee Carsley is Premier League quality

Should Davies be sacked in the coming weeks, former England interim manager Lee Carsley is the favourite to replace him.

One major bookmaker has handed the former Everton midfielder 4/1 odds, leading the race ahead of Gary O’Neil (7/1) and Michael Carrick (7/1).

Carsley took charge of six games following the departure of Gareth Southgate, winning five of them and losing one to Greece at Wembley.

Speaking in 2024, Troy Deeney was insistent that the former Ireland international could manage in the Premier League.

“I think where Lee could come in at a different angle is that I don’t think his expectation would be that he gets a top-four job straight away,” the former Birmingham striker told talkSPORT.

“I think Gareth Southgate was like Manchester United, was where he was coming in at. That was his entry point. I think Lee would be great at a Brentford, where he’s worked before, for example.”