Dan Carter

Wed 13 September 2023 8:10, UK

Simon Jordan was left unimpressed by Jim White’s update over the potential managerial shift between Rangers and Birmingham City, responding with sarcasm over the suggestion Wayne Rooney could replace John Eustace at the English Championship club.

The Gers have reportedly identified the current Birmingham boss as a candidate to replace Michael Beale should he be sacked due to the Light Blues’ poor start to the season [Daily Mail, 6 September].

Birmingham have in turn reportedly identified Rooney as their number preferred candidate to take over at St Andrew’s should Eustace be poached by Rangers in the coming weeks [Tom Collomosse, 7 September].

White explained this potential roundabout of managerial change to Jordan on Talk Sport on Tuesday [12 September], saying: “Birmingham’s new American owners are considering Wayne Rooney as a target, to be the next manager, if John Eustace was to leave Birmingham City.”

Former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan then sarcastically replied: “Well I’m sure John Eustace is thrilled with this sort of indexing.”

It isn’t often that a manager’s replacement is reportedly identified before they have even left their post, yet somehow between this trio of football clubs, all three managers are reportedly on the move before a single sacking has taken place.

Eustace is still the Birmingham City boss and until Beale leaves Ibrox that is unlikely to change despite the poor run of form at the start of the season, there has been little to no suggestion that his sacking is imminent.

Now with the high-pressure environment on the blue side of Glasgow and the Old Firm and Champions League defeats before the international break, there is every chance another few losses could see Beale get the chop, but there is also no guarantee Eustace is the man to replace him.

Currently, the Birmingham boss has seen his replacement named in the newspaper before he has even come close to leaving St Andrew’s, where his team sat in the play-off places having yet to lose this season.

While Jordan’s sarcasm is often unwarranted and argumentative when he appears on the radio, this time it seems completely justified. Eustace must feel as though he is in the middle of a media whirlwind with constant speculation about his next move or replacement.

Little to nothing will be decided by either Rangers, Birmingham or DC United unless Beale does depart Ibrox, and then maybe this managerial conveyor belt can start up again.

In other Rangers news, Borna Barisic has been labelled as key to Croatia’s success in the international break