Chris Davies has welcomed the appointment of Scott Fry as Birmingham City's new set piece coach, describing it as an 'important addition' to the backroom staff. Fry joins from Rangers, where he spent nine months, and is already working with the squad during their pre-season training camp in Portugal.
Fry's Proven Track Record
The 33-year-old gained recognition for his work at Lincoln City, where he served as set piece coach before moving to Rangers. Over the past two seasons, Lincoln City has been the most effective team from dead-ball situations in English football, highlighting Fry's expertise in this specialized area.
Blues' Set Piece Struggles
Birmingham City scored 16 goals from set pieces in the Championship last season but conceded 17, a statistic that Davies is keen to improve. The signing of 6ft 4in centre-back Dael Fry—who scored three league goals in 20 starts for Middlesbrough last term—is expected to bolster their attacking threat from set pieces. However, Davies emphasized that the acquisition of Scott Fry as a specialist coach is even more critical.
Davies commented: “He brings valuable experience in an area where we believe we can keep improving. Scott’s success has been built on his ability to think differently and to convey his ideas to the players in a clear way. This is an important addition to the team and one that we believe will make us improve and be even more competitive.”
Growing Trend in Football
The appointment reflects a growing trend across football, with more clubs hiring dedicated set piece coaches to gain a competitive edge. The majority of teams in the upper echelons of the Championship table last season fared significantly better than Birmingham City in set piece efficiency, both offensively and defensively.
