'Not in my book' - Our verdict as Lee Bowyer raises Birmingham City contract question

When Lee Bowyer entered the press room after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Hull City, he did so with an air of ‘what’s there to say about that?’

The next few minutes passed with reporters talking about previous 90 minutes of stalemate and just when it looked like proceedings had ground to a swift halt, Birmingham City’s head coach was asked about his programme notes.

Wednesday marks Bowyer’s one-year anniversary in charge of Blues – we’ll save deeper analysis about that year for the day.

However, clearly cognisant of his impending milestone Bowyer wrote in Blues News: “I have a year left on my contract, but I want to be here long-term. I want to be in a position to take the club forward for years to come because, as I said when I arrived, I know how good this place will be when it gets going.”

When quizzed about it, he expanded saying he doesn't want merely to be the guy who had done the dirty work which would allow someone else to benefit when/if investment into the first team squad resumed.

He said: “I want to be someone that gets a bit of backing, like the previous managers that have been here – and have a bit of money to spend.”

All of which raises something of a referendum on Bowyer’s first year and an existential question as to whether to extend his contract beyond the second.

In saying ‘I believe I’m the man to take us forward’ he has raised the question ‘Is Lee Bowyer the man to take Blues forward?’

Birmingham City don’t do quiet season endings.

Broadly speaking I’m still very much in the Bowyer camp. Continuity is a rare commodity in Championship football and in recent years absolutely absent at St Andrew’s.

But the continuity has to be along the right path – and by and large the team seems to be heading along