Birmingham City part ways with coach just eight months after hiring him

Birmingham City have announced that Mark Kennedy has stepped down from his position as the club’s under-21s manager, bringing his eight-month spell in charge to an end.

Kennedy rejoined the Blues in June for a second coaching stint, having previously worked alongside Lee Bowyer during the 2021/22 campaign.

He succeeded long-serving coach Steve Spooner, who chose to step aside, and took charge of the under-21s as they prepared for their first season in Premier League 2 since the academy regained Category One status.

During his time in the role, Kennedy oversaw the team’s return to Premier League 2 competition. In recent weeks, however, Danny Barham has been leading the side.

In a short statement, the club confirmed Kennedy’s departure was for personal reasons. The former Republic of Ireland international was thanked for his contribution, and Birmingham City stated that the search for his replacement is now underway.