Next Bristol City manager contenders

We take a look at the contenders to become the next Bristol City manager following the departure of Liam Manning to Norwich City.

Ruben Selles

Ruben Selles is currently unattached after becoming the latest managerial casualty of Acun Ilicali's Hull City regime, despite sparing the Tigers of relegation on the final day of the 2024/25 Championship season.

Cutting his teeth in the Premier League with Southampton on an interim basis in 2022/23, Selles moved to Reading and steadied the ship during a turbulent period for the Royals by developing young players and implementing an attractive and effective style.

Selles' reign at Hull was less convincing but he successfully accomplished his main objective of keeping Hull in the second tier, and the Valencia native would be a coup for the majority of clubs in the Championship.

Rob Edwards

On the face of it, a manager of Rob Edwards' profile should be a hit at Ashton Gate.

Rising to prominence after orchestrating Forest Green's League Two title success in 2022, Edwards was lauded after guiding Luton Town to the Premier League and despite exhibiting signs they could potentially survive in the top-flight, the Hatters' form deteriorated and it was a decline that seeped into their return to the Championship.

Departing Luton in January, Edwards will be eager to prove he's a top operator in the Championship and the Robins would present an ideal project for him to demonstrate his credentials.

Tom Cleverley

Such is the merciless nature of Gino Pozzo's approach to managers, it was always going to be a matter of when, not if Tom Cleverley was sacked by Watford.

Cleverley's dismissal should have no bearing on the impressive job he performed at Vicarage Road as the former Manchester United midfielder ensured the Hornets remained competitive despite the loss of key players and inadequate recruitment.

If Bristol City are looking to establish an identity, Cleverley could be the man to implement a distinguishable style.

Michael Skubala

Michael Skubala's journey into professional management is a fascinating one, having navigated via Loughborough University's football programme and England's futsal team to a caretaker stint in charge of Leeds United in the Premier League.

His wealth of experience has stood him in good stead at Lincoln City, with the 42-year-old overseeing the Imps' progression into a top-half League One outfit with one of the smaller budgets in the division.

Unlike the aforementioned candidates, prising Skubala from Lincoln would require compensation, although the Robins hierarchy would find it difficult to find a manager as meticulous as the former Leeds coach.

Luke Williams

Luke Williams was hot property on the Football League managerial conveyor belt when he was appointed Swansea City head coach in January 2024.

However, despite a period of promise in the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign, a dismal run of form ultimately resulted in his departure from South Wales.

Williams outlined the indecision amongst the Swans hierarchy contributed to his demise, and a stable environment at the Robins High Performance Centre could see the former Notts County boss prosper by combining results with an attractive style of play.