It has been one week since Birmingham City and Craig Gardner parted ways, but the recruitment process for his successor as Director of Football has been quietly underway since the end of last season. Gardner, 39, stepped down, citing a desire for time away from football, giving the club a head start.
Recruitment Strategy
Recruiting a Director of Football is often a lengthy process, as this person becomes the figurehead of the entire football department. Blues are taking their time to ensure the right appointment, with many applications expected.
Kristjaan Speakman
Multiple sources link Speakman to the role, almost six years after he left Blues for Sunderland. The 47-year-old spent 14 years in Blues' academy before becoming Sunderland's sporting director in 2020. He oversaw the development of Jude Bellingham, Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond, Demarai Gray, Jordan James, and Jobe Bellingham. Speakman was instrumental in Sunderland's rise from League One to the Premier League, using a data-driven model and embracing AI. He stated, "I think a non-negotiable moving forward is going to be AI, the efficient use of it." Knighthead, who own Real Analytics, an AI-based analysis tool, may find this appealing. However, some fans associate Speakman with Blues' old regime and Xuandong Ren.
Dan Ashworth
Ashworth is a pioneer of the sporting director role in English football. He started at West Bromwich Albion in 2007, leading them to two Premier League promotions and top-half finishes. He then joined The FA, improving England's youth and senior teams, culminating in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. After stints at Brighton and Newcastle United, he moved to Manchester United in 2024 but left after five months. The FA re-hired him as Chief Football Officer in 2025. The question is whether the 55-year-old is motivated by another Championship promotion, nearly two decades after his first. He is currently in the US with England's World Cup squad.
The In-House Option: Mike Rigg
Blues already have an experienced sporting director in Mike Rigg, brought in as academy technical director in 2024. Rigg made his name at Manchester City during the Abu Dhabi era, working under Roberto Mancini, and held similar roles at QPR, Fulham, Burnley, and Al-Jazira. While experienced, he lacks the recent prominence of Speakman or Ashworth, and Knighthead may seek a statement appointment.
