Bristol City fired Leicester City warning over Liam Manning situation - "fear" referenced | OneFootball

Manning has been linked with taking over at both Leicester and Norwich after a strong season in charge of the Robins

Bristol City head coach Liam Manning has been predicted to depart Ashton Gate this summer if Leicester City approach him to take over as boss at the King Power Stadium following their relegation from the Premier League.

Manning's Robins ended their Championship campaign in disappointing fashion last week as they were beaten 3-0 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to lose 6-0 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals, after they had impressively clinched a sixth-placed finish in the regular season.

City's full attention will soon turn to the new campaign and the summer window that precedes it, but there are fears among supporters at Ashton Gate that their 39-year-old boss could be on his way out of the club following their impressive exploits.

Manning has been linked with taking over at both Norwich City and Leicester City in recent times, but while it would be a surprise to see him join the former, after they finished seven places and 11 points below the Robins in the Championship, a move to the relegated East Midlands outfit may well be one that appeals.

Robins fan pundit issues Liam Manning, Leicester prediction - it would be 'very difficult' for him to reject the job

Norwich-born Manning impressed in his first stint as a manager at Belgian side Lommel SK in the 2020/21 campaign, which led MK Dons to appoint him as their boss to try to chase promotion from League One to the second-tier.

He led them to a third-place finish in his first season, but they were beaten in the play-offs, and he was dismissed midway through his second term in charge. Oxford United moved to hire him in March 2023, and the U's strong third-tier form saw Bristol City poach him to become their head-coach in November of the same year.

Manning led City to an 11th-placed finish in his first season in charge at Ashton Gate, and they managed to go one better this time around as they sneaked into the play-offs following some impressive end-of-season form. Their sixth-placed finish was the club's best league finish in 17 years.

The 39-year-old is unsurprisingly highly-rated throughout the EFL, and talkSPORT have reported that Norwich are showing an interest in making him their new boss following Johannes Hoff Thorup's sacking, while journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that he is under consideration for the Leicester job, with Ruud van Nistelrooy set to leave.

FLW's Bristol City fan pundit, Tom Sandy, believes that Manning would not leave Ashton Gate to join his hometown club, Norwich, due to the Canaries' recent Championship struggles, but thinks that he would depart the Robins to take over at Leicester if the Foxes were to make an approach for his services soon.

"Leicester City have been reported to be interested in Liam Manning, and, over the last couple of days as well, Norwich City have been reported to be interested in him as their new manager too," Tom told FLW.

"The main talking point is, would he be tempted? Obviously, in order to get the Bristol City job, he was tempted away from a very good situation he had at Oxford United.

"He had them near the top of the League One table, I think second or maybe third, but he chose to leave to join what he felt was a better long-term project at Bristol City.

"There is obviously a fear that he could potentially do that again, to make the step-up to Leicester City.

"He is a very ambitious manager, and that is a reflection of his character that he wants to prioritise what is best for his career, which is completely understandable.

"Leicester would probably be a big step-up, I would imagine. The finances with the parachute payments would be a fantastic asset to have, and would be a pull for any manager.

"I think there could be a very real possibility that he could jump ship to Leicester. I think Norwich less so. I know he is from that area, so it would make sense for him to potentially go there, but I believe he is an Ipswich fan, and I also feel that the Norwich project isn’t significantly better than Bristol City’s.

"Obviously he has been here a season-and-a-half, and he’s just got us in the play-offs. I think, if it were the Norwich job that he was offered, he would rather stay.

"I’d like to think he would rather stay and continue the project that he is building at Bristol City, but if Leicester come knocking, obviously it would be very difficult to turn that down with all that extra money that he would have at his disposal."

Manning is yet to receive an approach from Norwich or Leicester - the Foxes job would surely tempt him to leave Bristol City

Manning's stock is clearly high following a brilliant season overseeing the Robins' top-six push, despite their ultimately disappointing play-off campaign that saw them well-beaten by a strong Sheffield United squad.

He has been linked with both the Norwich and Leicester jobs in recent times, but Bristol City supporters can likely remain calm for the time being regarding the Canaries' interest after a new revelation about his future was made by Bristol Live last week.

They have claimed that the Robins are yet to receive any approach for Manning's services from the Carrow Road outfit, and Ashton Gate chiefs are understandably keen to keep the ex-Oxford boss at the club should such any kind of offer be put forward.

While that will relax those connected with the club that may be worried about the 39-year-old's impending departure, it does not speak to Leicester's apparent interest, which, as aforementioned, would be very tough for Manning to turn down if the Foxes were serious about him being appointed.

The East Midlands side have endured a dismal Premier League campaign, as their relegation was confirmed with five games to spare, but they will plan to be a force in the second-tier next term with numerous key players retained and a new boss in place as Ruud van Nistelrooy is likely to leave his head-coach post.

Leicester will also have a big pot of parachute payment money at their disposal that will no doubt be used to further bolster their squad, much like in 2023/24 when they went straight back up as Championship champions after going down the year before.

The appeal of such a club is clear, with the chance to manage in the top-flight a real possibility for Manning if he is able to succeed at the King Power Stadium. Whether the Foxes are set to choose him as their next boss remains to be seen, but it would certainly not be a shock to see him appointed if he is offered a chance to take the job.