Football League World

Birmingham City look set for what could be a decisive pre-season in the summer, as the club look to eventually meet Knighthead Capital Management's lofty expectations on the pitch.

This will come after the end of what has been a disappointing first season back in the Championship for Blues, all things considered, with much more expected of Chris Davies and his side from those on the outside after coasting to the League One title last year with an already impressive pre-existing squad.

It must be remembered that this is still Davies' first ever role as a manager after previous spells as an assistant at clubs such as Leicester City, Celtic, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, although many feel there has now been a large enough sample size of matches for the 41-year-old to be critiqued on when it comes to his overall performance at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

As such, it has been well-known that, at various points of the Championship season, Davies has become the subject of sack calls and reports, whilst still retaining the full confidence and support of owner, Tom Wagner.

But, with Birmingham currently 14th in the table despite taking four points from their last two matches, with a win over Wrexham followed up by a 1-1 draw at Hull City, Football League World understands that a managerial change could still be in the offing come the summer, and that Knighthead are eyeing up a potentially shock swoop for former Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Thomas Frank.

With that in mind, we asked our Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, for his immediate reaction to such developments.

Birmingham City urged to consider 'Premier League' level Thomas Frank as potential replacement for Chris Davies

It had already been claimed that England Under-21s boss, Lee Carsley, had emerged as a potential name on the club's shortlist should Davies lose his spot in the dugout, with Frank now also appearing to feature alongside the ex-Blues midfielder on this front.

The 52-year-old endured a frustrating eight-month spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before being dismissed in February, but had previously done an impressive job at London rivals, Brentford, after initially replacing Dean Smith in November 2018.

In the Championship, the Bees were so often a fine watch in Frank's high-pressing system, which developed the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Said Benrahma, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, and eventually led to a play-off victory in May 2021 over Swansea City.

It is, therefore, rather unsurprising why Moore believes a move for the Dane would be a statement from the West Midlands outfit.

"It's an absolutely massive upgrade on Chris Davies. He's a 'Premier League-esque' manager'," Moore told FLW.

"Look at the job he did at Brentford. He's 100% an upgrade.

"Whether we've got the pull power to get him, I'd be surprised if we have," he added.

"If you can get Thomas Frank in the Championship, it'd be absolutely silly not to. But, I'd be surprised if we had the power to get him.

"There's not much else to say, you'd just be stupid not to go and get him. If he wants the move, get him in, 100%," Moore stated.

"He knows he'd get financially backed, and to be fair, it's probably an attractive job for a lot of managers. You know you're going to be backed and get a lot of money.

"If Thomas Frank wants to come in, then bring him in, 100%. I'd take him over Chris Davies any day of the week."

Blues fans, can you see Thomas Frank replacing Chris Davies? Comment below!

Thomas Frank could help deliver Birmingham City's long-awaited Premier League return

Given his stature and recent achievements, barring a disappointing spell with Spurs, Frank is still highly regarded within the game, and it would certainly increase expectation levels at St. Andrew's if Blues were to secure his appointment.

However, as previously mentioned, he is someone who would provide extensive knowledge of the Championship given his experience as a promotion contender for two seasons with Brentford, as well as knowing what would be required in order to consolidate in the Premier League afterwards.

Even though Frank is currently out of work, it may prove to be a rather pricey gamble for Knighthead, but one that could well be worth the risk.

Birmingham City's first season back in the Championship has ultimately been one of frustration, as they are set to end the 2025/26 campaign in mid-table.

Having coasted to the League One title last season, plenty was expected of Blues and manager, Chris Davies, this year, particularly when the club continued to conduct an eye-catching transfer window in the summer, before doing exactly the same in January as the playing squad at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park was reshuffled.

With just three matches to go in the Championship, the West Midlands outfit are stationed in 14th position at present, having taken four points from their two most recent outings against play-off hopefuls Wrexham and Hull City, as they earned a credible 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium through Tomoki Iwata's late thunderbolt.

That said, it has remained to be seen for some time whether Davies will be the man leading the next phase of Birmingham's 'project' under their ambitious American investors, Knighthead Capital Management, with plenty of supporters far from pleased with how the current campaign has fizzled out in recent weeks.

Given the spotlight on the club, the 41-year-old's position has been under scrutiny at various points of the season, but he has retained the full support and confidence of Tom Wagner.

But, in a fresh turn of events, Football League World understand that, should Davies be relieved of his duties in B9 ahead of a critical pre-season, a shock move for ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss, Thomas Frank, could be in the pipeline.

The Dane, of course, endured a rather miserable time in North London and is now out of work, having cost Spurs a fair amount of money throughout his eight-month tenure.

How much money Tottenham Hotspur spent on Thomas Frank as Birmingham City eye surprise managerial move

The 52-year-old, of course, is no stranger to the Championship as well as the Premier League, having previously spent almost seven years in charge of Brentford, who he achieved promotion with through the play-offs in 2020/21, before establishing the Bees as a top-flight side for the first time in decades.

Unsurprisingly, such an upward trajectory caught the eye of last season's UEFA Europa League winners, who paid their London rivals a sizeable £10m compensation fee when handing Frank a three-year contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last June in place of the departed Ange Postecoglou.

It would prove to be a disastrous move all round, though, as the Dane won just 13 of his 38 matches across all competitions, with five of those coming in the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs then ended his short-lived reign with a run of eight games without a win in the Premier League, and Frank was dismissed after a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on February 10th.

It was then revealed that he would receive a year's worth of compensation based on earnings, which equated to £8m, having collected a reported monthly wage figure of £650,000 a month in North London, meaning Tottenham had spent in excess of £23m on his services in said timeframe.

Blues fans, do you think Knighthead would be able to lure Thomas Frank to St. Andrew's? Comment below!

Thomas Frank appointment would be a statement of intent from Birmingham City

Given Blues' well-documented ambitions, going in search of Frank as a potential successor for Davies would send out a statement heading into next season in a division which could still well include his former club, Spurs, as they are fully immersed in the relegation battle.

It would be intriguing to see if Frank saw a potential drop back down to the EFL as a viable option from his own perspective, even if Birmingham have their sights set on a short-term return to the top-flight ahead of the opening of the Powerhouse stadium in four years time.

Looking at the aforementioned figures from Frank's time in North London, it certainly wouldn't be a cheap option for Knighthead, but it is one which could pay off when taking his overall record, particularly with Brentford, into consideration.

Birmingham City could well elect change in the dugout upon the conclusion of the current Championship campaign, with Chris Davies' future in charge having long been the subject of intense speculation.

Despite gaining promotion from League One last season, it has been a relatively underwhelming season for the upwardly-mobile Second City outfit.

Ambitions of competing for successive promotions were made clear in no uncertain terms by chairman Tom Wagner and Birmingham's transfer activity was reflective of a club intent on going all the way as the likes of Tommy Doyle, Marvin Ducksch, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Patrick Roberts all rocked up at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in eye-catching deals.

Birmingham, however, have struggled to establish consistent form and deliver upon their own lofty expectations after setting pulses racing with an EFL-record points haul en-route to lifting the third-tier title last term, with this season now poised to be concluded with an uninspiring mid-table finish.

Positioned in 14th-place following Saturday afternoon's 1-1 draw at promotion-chasers Hull City, Blues are unlikely to experience much movement in the dying embers of the season and that could force ever-ambitious owners Knighthead into action over Davies' position.

Various reports throughout the campaign have thrown the future of the ex-Spurs assistant into question and no shortage of Bluenoses have now turned either, with many favouring a change of management to lead Birmingham higher up the table and towards the promised land.

And now, as we edge ever closer to the commencement of the off-season, Football League World can now exclusively reveal a hugely-ambitious leading contender to succeed Davies if Birmingham decide to relieve the head coach of his duties in the coming weeks.

Birmingham City eyeing shock move for ex-Spurs boss Thomas Frank if Chris Davies is sacked

Football League World has learned that Birmingham could look to make yet another statement of intent as Knighthead weigh up potential candidates in the event of sacking Davies, which is a decision that still appears to hang very much in the balance.

If Blues do part ways with the 41-year-old, though, FLW can exclusively disclose that they will set their sights upon a shock swoop for Thomas Frank as he searches for a return to management after departing Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Sources have revealed to FLW that Birmingham are considering the possibility of lining up a move for Frank, and it's one which would undoubtedly make waves across the Championship and beyond while strengthening Blues' promotion ambitions ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Frank enjoyed a stellar near-seven-year stay with Brentford, taking the Bees into the Premier League for the first time and establishing the West London outfit at top-flight level on a limited budget with savvy spending and recruitment.

His exploits at Brentford earned the admiration of Spurs, who appointed the Dane as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou last summer.

However, despite being backed heavily in the transfer market by completing deals for Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel, Frank managed to win just 13 of his 38 games in charge while suffering early elimination from both domestic cup competitions before receiving his marching orders just over two months ago, by which stage the Lilywhites were positioned 16th in the Premier League table.

Birmingham City fans, how would you feel about the potential appointment of ex-Spurs boss Thomas Frank? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Spurs' fortunes have, of course, only worsened following the departure of Frank, with a shock relegation to the Championship now looking likely in spite of Roberto De Zerbi's recent appointment.

It could just transpire, then, that Frank is managing against his former side in the Championship next term in a shock potential turn of fate.

Thomas Frank appointment could be Knighthead's best Birmingham City call yet

Convincing Frank to drop down to Championship level will represent no easy task for Birmingham, who may possess stronger financial resources and pulling power than the overwhelming majority of their divisional counterparts owing to Knighthead's deep pockets and glittering long-term ambitions but could still find themselves beneath where the Dane is looking to rejuvenate his career.

He was, after all, one of the most highly-rated head coaches in the Premier League less than twelve months prior, and while FLW understands Birmingham's intentions to line up a bold move, there is no current indication of how the former Brentford boss feels about it at the time of writing.

Frank would, no doubt, represent a dream hire for all associated with Birmingham if the club's key-decision makers can broker a deal after potentially dismissing Davies, and his experience of both winning promotion and competing impressively at Premier League level aligns with exactly where Blues want to be.

Even if this move proves a touch too ambitious for a club who have already turned heads and defied the odds with player recruitment in recent times, the interest alone is a sure-fire representation of Birmingham's ambitions and supporters may rest somewhat assured in the high standards that they are setting for weighing up candidates to replace Davies.

It's clear that Birmingham are going to look at contenders who could significantly elevate the level of the current squad while also having the requisite qualities to lead and establish the club in the top-flight in the years to come, and it would be no surprise to see more ambitious names appear on Blues' radar moving forward.

Derby County are still in the mix for a play-off place in the Championship with only four games to go.

The Rams survived relegation to League One by just one point last season under John Eustace, who took over in February 2025.

But the team have gone from strength to strength in the 46-year-old’s first full campaign in charge at Pride Park.

The gap to sixth place Hull City is now five points following the club’s defeat to Southampton last weekend.

Derby haven’t competed in the top flight since 2008 when they set a record for the least amount of points earned in the history of the Premier League with just 11.

But there is still some hope that they could make a return this year, provided they can overcome the gap to the Tigers and win the play-offs.

Derby County unwanted record could be broken

Derby’s last campaign in the Premier League saw the team earn just 11 points en route to going straight back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The club earned many unwanted records as part of their disastrous season, including the most games without a win to start a calendar year in the top flight.

But, according to stats provider Opta, Tottenham Hotspur are now on course to beat that record in the coming weeks amid their poor run of form.

The London outfit’s last victory came on 28 December when they won 1-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

Will Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur be in the same division next season? Comment your opinion below

They have gone 14 games without a win since then, leaving them inside the relegation zone with just six fixtures remaining.

Derby went 18 games winless from 1 January 2008 until the final league game of the 2007/08 campaign when they lost 4-0 to Reading.

However, if Roberto de Zerbi’s side fail to win any of their remaining fixtures in the Premier League this season, then they will eclipse the 18 game streak and reach 20.

Derby will be keeping an extra close eye on Spurs’ upcoming games against Brighton, Wolves, Aston Villa and Leeds United, as it’s against Daniel Farke’s side where they could equal the record.

Derby County would love to lose some of their Premier League records

Derby’s last Premier League campaign was a true disaster under Billy Davies, and then Paul Jewell, as the club broke a number of records on their way back down to the Championship.

But if they could shed some of those records, then that will be a positive moment for the Rams.

Derby earned the fewest away points of any team in Premier League history in 2008, and were one of only six sides to fail to win away from home in a whole campaign.

The club also have the record for the total number of consecutive matches without a win at 32.

The team scored just 20 times from 38 games, conceding 89, while they won just one game, making them the worst in Premier League history.

However, Derby now have the chance to make their return to the top flight just as Spurs could potentially go down.

De Zerbi’s side lost at the weekend to Sunderland in what was the Italian’s first game in charge, leaving them two points adrift of safety with just six games to go.

Stoke City and Mark Robins will be keeping one eye on Tottenham Hotspur for one clear reason, as the Potters target a summer return for their star defender.

Stoke's season, at one stage, was packed with promise, with the Potters emerging as strong promotion candidates alongside both Coventry City and Middlesbrough at the beginning of the campaign.

However, whilst Coventry and Middlesbrough have been able to sustain their form and continue to push for promotion throughout the year, Stoke, on the other hand, have plummeted down the table and look destined for another season in the Championship.

Not since the 2015/16 season have Stoke finished in the top half of any division they have been in, with it being nearly a decade of bottom-half finishes in the Potteries.

Whilst many Potters will be frustrated and disheartened with the way this season has panned out, there have been clear signs of incremental improvement around the club, both on and off the pitch, giving them something to hold on to moving forward.

Sorba Thomas has been their standout performer, hitting double digits for both goals and assists from the wing, though one of their defenders, who has just been nominated for an EFL award, has arguably been just as good.

Ashley Phillips has been excellent once again during his second loan spell at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur

Ashley Phillips is approaching the end of his second loan spell at Stoke, having spent the 2024/25 season on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He rejoined the Potters this summer under Mark Robins and has picked up where he left off.

Having recently been shortlisted for the EFL Championship’s Young Player of the Season award alongside the likes of Leicester City's Jordan James, Sheffield United's Sydie Peck, and Derby County's Bobby Clark, it is just a small piece of recognition for just how good the centre-back has been this campaign.

Phillips initially struggled to break back into the side upon his return to the Potteries, with both Bosun Lawal and Ben Wilmot excelling alongside each other, but an injury to Lawal allowed Phillips a route back into the side, and he hasn't looked back.

Stoke, for a large part of the season, had the best defensive record in the league, and whilst that has diminished in recent months for several reasons, Phillips has remained excellent in the middle of defence.

Still only 20, the Blackburn Rovers academy product has already made over 100 professional career appearances, with 79 of those coming on loan with the Potters, which is a testament to just how important he has been for them.

Stoke would likely jump at the chance to bring him back to the bet365 Stadium once again this summer, and their chances of doing so will drastically increase in the event of one thing in particular.

What do you rate Stoke's chances of re-signing Phillips this summer? Should Robins look to sign him permanently? Share your thoughts below!

Mark Robins will be holding his breath as Ashley Phillips' future hinges on Tottenham Hotspur's fate

Indeed, whether Phillips will be a Stoke player once again next season largely depends on the fate of his parent club, Tottenham, with the North London outfit embroiled in a heated relegation battle in the top flight.

Both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor have failed to get a tune out of the Spurs squad, with former Brighton and Hove Albion and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi the man tasked with keeping the club afloat in the final stretch of the season.

In the event that Spurs retain their Premier League status, re-signing Phillips, whilst not an easy task, would be all the more simple than if they were to be relegated, as the 20-year-old would likely become a key component of their squad.

Phillips signed a fresh deal with Spurs in the summer before returning to Stoke, with his time in North London set to expire in the summer of 2028, meaning he will have another two years left on his deal at the end of this campaign.

What sort of fee Spurs would demand for Phillips in any case remains to be seen, but they will likely be looking to make a significant profit on the £2 million they paid Blackburn for him back in 2023 as an 18-year-old.

With the financial regulations changing heading into next year, Stoke will be able to spend once again, and backed by the wealthy Coates family, Robins will be rubbing his hands at the thought of rebuilding the Potters.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine has been a standout star for Preston North End this season on loan.

Disregarding Saturday afternoon’s match against Charlton Athletic, the England youth international has registered eight goals and four assists across 40 Championship appearances.

It's already known that if the Lilywhites want to keep the 21-year-old at Deepdale beyond this season, they have to pay a club-record fee of £4.5m, as per The Lancashire Post.

But there's a fresh twist involving a certain club north of the English border that could put this option-to-buy in jeopardy.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill spotted watching Spurs star Alfie Devine at Preston North End

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Celtic interim manager Michael O'Neill was spotted in the stands during Preston North End's 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers on Easter Monday.

With this in mind, O’Rourke’s sources indicated that Alfie Devine was the “focus of attention.”

The transfer correspondent had revealed earlier on the outlet’s podcast that O’Neill wanted to assess the Spurs youngster in person to determine his suitability for Celtic’s squad.

In said game, Devine set up Brad Potts for North End's goal, which was his fourth goal contribution in just his last three league games.

Although O'Neill has apparently refused to rule out staying at Celtic longer, the expectation is that he will leave at the end of the season. Even still, the aforementioned Football Insider report notes that the Northern Irishman remains involved in the Glasgow club's "ambitious" summer recruitment plans.

Devine told BBC Radio Lancashire on Friday that this loan spell he's having has been his "best" one yet, although there's no obligation for the midfielder to commit his future to Preston, which obvioulsy leaves the door open for the likes of Celtic.

In short, the option-to-buy hinges on whether North End can afford him AND whether Devine wants to stay.

Where do you think Alfie Devine will be playing his football next season? Tottenham, Celtic, Preston OR someone else? Discuss your transfer theories below!

As per The Lancashire Post once more, Preston's chairman, Peter Risdale, confirmed personal terms are already agreed with Devine, so that's one less thing to worry about.

But, they'd have to more than double their current highest spend of about £2m, which they reportedly paid for Callum Lang in February.

How Tottenham Hotspur's own troubles add weight to Alfie Devine's Preston North End or Celtic future

Ultimately, this growing Celtic admiration could derail Preston's plans for Devine entirely - or he could even end up staying at Spurs.

Thanks to West Ham United's 4-0 win over Wolves on Friday night, Tottenham are now in the Premier League's bottom three for the first time since 2009.

Yes, there's still seven games to go, but should Spurs actually drop into the second tier, Devine could feature in their plans for next season.

For now, though, if the youngster keeps his form going strong till the end of the season, then surely more and more clubs will be queuing up to sign him in the summer.

Coventry City have one foot in the Premier League, with Frank Lampard on the brink of ending the Sky Blues' 25-year exodus from the top flight, and preparations in the event of promotion are well underway.

It's been a memorable year for Coventry supporters, and it could well become an unforgettable one, with the club on the verge of securing promotion back to the Premier League after a long-term absence.

Lampard's side came quickest out of the blocks and has barely slowed down, and with just five games remaining and a current 12-point gap, the CBS Arena will almost certainly be hosting top-flight football next year.

This team will go down in history should they get their noses over the line, though, as is the case with any side making the jump to the Premier League nowadays, incoming's will be needed aplenty throughout the squad.

Preparations will have already begun as to what their summer window may look like, as reports have emerged that Coventry have joined the race among several top-flight clubs for a highly-rated young goalkeeper.

Coventry City join strong competition in the race for Sheffield Wednesday's Pierce Charles

According to TEAMtalk, Coventry have joined several Premier League clubs in the race for Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles, with the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Leeds United also believed to be tracking his situation.

Already a fully-fledged Northern Ireland international, Charles has been excellent for the Owls whenever called upon, and would have almost certainly made much more than his 15 league appearances this season if it weren't for a couple of long-term injuries limiting his minutes.

Still just 20-years-old, interest in Charles is unsurprising given his level of performance despite his age and Wednesday's turbulent circumstances.

Manchester City have been one of football's global powerhouses across the past decade, and Pep Guardiola's interest should not be taken lightly.

Coventry must offer Charles some incredible terms to convince him that the CBS Arena is where his long-term future lies, given the strong competition they are set to face to claim his signature this summer.

The Sky Blues will need to ensure Premier League football is a certainty before making a formal move, and in the event of that, Charles will likely not want to spend time on the bench if it can be helped, something which Man City and other Premier League clubs couldn't guarantee.

Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has tipped the young keeper for stardom following his heroics against Leicester City, limiting the Foxes to a 1-1 draw, saying: "It gives our defenders great confidence to have a fantastic goalkeeper behind them. All of our players worked so hard, but Pierce was brilliant. He will play at the top level.

It's difficult to see any world in which Charles sticks around at Hillsborough next season, as his future almost certainly lies away from the League One-bound Owls, as Coventry joins a long queue in the hunt for the in-demand youngster.

Do you think Coventry should look to sign Pierce Charles, or should they look elsewhere? Share your thoughts below!

Frank Lampard should make Pierce Charles move at Coventry City if Carl Rushworth's deal falls through

There remains one obvious stumbling block in the way of Coventry actively pursuing a move for Charles, and that is the future of current goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who has enjoyed an excellent campaign on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Rushworth, according to FotMob, has prevented 7.9 expected goals this season, making him statistically the best shot-stopper in the entire division this year, so it will come as no surprise that Lampard is keen to bring him back again next campaign.

However, whilst in the event of promotion, Coventry's chances of bringing the Englishman back permanently drastically increase, they will likely face some competition for his signature from numerous other top-flight sides.

Rushworth will be the Sky Blues' number one target in goal this summer, but Charles, despite his lack of experience, would be an excellent alternative, and likely a cheaper one at that.

With Wednesday's financial issues, the Owls are not exactly in the driving seat when it comes to demanding a fee for the Northern Irishman, meaning Coventry, who are likely to see a big cash influx this summer, shouldn't struggle to match the requested fee.

Coventry will continue to track Charles' situation despite the competition, and this move is certainly one to keep an eye on this summer.

As Southampton continue to pursue an immediate Premier League return under Tonda Eckert, the Saints will always reminisce over the glory days at St Mary's Stadium as a number of high-profile stars propelled the club into European competition.

Southampton made it back to the Premier League in 2012 and proceeded to spend eleven years in English football's top-flight before suffering relegation in the 2022/23 campaign, which came after campaigns of gradual regression.

Before that, however, the Saints were widely recognised among the best-run clubs in the land for continually punching above their weight financially and enjoying an outstanding recruitment model in which significant profits were regularly collected on players who were signed for relative fees and went on to star in the Premier League.

Southampton secured four successive top-half finishes between 2014 and 2017, competing in the UEFA Europa League for two of those alongside reaching the 2016/17 EFL Cup final.

Led by stars such as Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Virgil Van Dijk, the Saints were able to call upon an enviable wealth of talent courtesy of savvy recruitment which was bettered by very few, and supporters continue to dream of those days once day returning to St Mary's.

Another notable star from that golden era of Southampton's recent history was Victor Wanyama, who headed down to the south coast in a reported £12.5 million deal from Celtic in the summer of 2013 and spent three years in red-and-white before joining ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Kenyan midfield man remains fondly remembered by the St Mary's faithful to this day, and some ten years on from his Southampton exit, he's now confirmed his retirement while paying homage to Eckert's side.

Ex-Southampton star Victor Wanyama confirms retirement decision

Wanyama went on to shine at Tottenham after departing Southampton, and the ex-Celtic starlet nearly helped Pochettino's outfit to the Premier League title in his first season in North London.

Overall, he would make just shy of 100 appearances for the Lilywhites before spending four years in the MLS with CF Montreal and then returning to the United Kingdom with a brief four-match stint at Scottish second-tier side Dumferline Athletic.

Wanyama had been a free agent following his exit last summer, and now aged 34, the 27-cap ex-Kenyan international has revealed his decision to hang up his boots and the reasoning behind that call.

He explained that he has no regrets over his career and retirement decision after battling injuries, with the Saints cult hero now setting his sights on beginning a coaching career. He's still keeping an eye on Southampton's current fortunes, too, having watched Eckert's men progress to the FA Cup semi-finals with a stunning 2-1 victory against Premier League leaders Arsenal over the weekend.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Wanyama said: "I will say yeah, because I'm lucky to be able to manage my knee injury for about six years and finish like this.

"I have no regrets.

"I've been doing a bit of coaching, I'm now on my UEFA A License so hopefully I can get that and then some experience doing club-level coaching or something like that."

"It was great! I knew Southampton could do something, whenever they have a good run they tend to do it in the cup. I was watching the game and the way I was rooting for Southampton to get back into the semi-finals and back to Wembley, it was just right.

"That will also boost their chances of making it to the play-offs in the Championship.

"The way they're playing, they have found their way. They're very consistent now and I think if they get a play-off spot, they will be back in the Premier League.

Southampton fans, what are your best memories of Victor Wanyama? Let us know in the comments below!

Wanyama then spent time discussing his time at Spurs, where he also remains revered by supporters, and fans of Southampton, Celtic and the Lilywhites will all be able to join together to wish the now-ex midfielder all the best as he moves forward after retiring.

Victor Wanyama was a terrific signing for Southampton

It's perhaps ironic that Southampton didn't actually make a profit on Wanyama, who was sold on to Pochettino's Spurs for a lower fee than what was shelled out to bring him from Celtic at £11 million.

Wanyama had been wanting to leave the club, though, and Southampton still managed to gain a decent fee for his signature after he helped the side kick on exponentially during his time in Hampshire.

Never one to shy away from the nitty-gritty side of the game, Wanyama's dogged and determined willingness to break up play in the midfield engine room gave a centre stage for Southampton's more talented and technical attacking operators to work their magic high up the pitch.

Coventry City are set to win the Championship title and book their spot in next season's Premier League, but Yang Min-Hyeok has been unable to make his mark at the CBS Arena since joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January.

The winger was on loan at fellow second-tier club Portsmouth earlier this season, and notched three goals and one assist in 15 league appearances for Pompey.

Yang hasn't been named in a Sky Blues matchday squad since making a cameo appearance as a late substitute in a 0-0 draw with Oxford United on 7 February.

His other two Championship outings for Coventry also came as a substitute in January's defeats against both Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City.

Coventry City questioned over Yang Min-Hyeok signing as 'strange' admission made

Yang's only start for Frank Lampard's men arrived in January's 1-0 defeat to Stoke City in the third round of the FA Cup.

With the winger's lack of Championship involvement in mind, Football League World asked our Sky Blues fan pundit, Chris Deez, if his January arrival from Spurs has been pointless.

Deez told FLW: "We've made a lot of strange, underwhelming signings in the past, here at Coventry. But I think Yang has probably got to be right up there at the top as one of the weirdest.

"Just doesn't really make any sense. He was on loan at Portsmouth, doing fine. He'd not played that many games for them, he'd not exactly made an amazing impression, he'd not really lit the league on fire or anything, and their fans didn't seem particularly bothered when he went back to Spurs and then came to us on loan.

"And they've been in a relegation battle since, basically, the very start of the season, so you'd think that they would want somebody of, I was going to say his quality, but we've not really seen much of that at Cov.

"He hasn't been given much of a chance, in his defence. He was signed at the very start of the window, at the same time as (Romain) Esse from Palace.

"He didn't feel like a panic signing, more just he was there, he was available. We might as well have him rather than not have him, just in case we don't get anybody else in during the rest of the window.

"We ended up getting (Jahnoah) Markelo. He's not been played that much, but he's getting more of an opportunity than Yang has had. We're certainly not going to be making the deal permanent if and when we go up to the Premier League.

"I feel bad for the kid, because there's obviously a half-decent player in there, or else Spurs wouldn't be signing him, and having him in their academy, and loaning him out to get experience and minutes.

"It's probably going to be best for him to go out on loan to a League One team next season, or maybe a lower end of the Championship team.

"The poor lad barely even makes the bench anymore, so I don't think it's a case of he hasn't got the right attitude or anything like that, or that Lampard doesn't like him, because Lampard would have signed off on bringing him in on loan.

"I think it's just a case of bad timing. I think maybe last season, (or) the season before, he maybe would have played for us quite a bit, but we've just been so incredibly good, especially in attacking positions this season, it was always going to be a struggle for him.

"He wasn't brought in to be a first-team regular. He was brought in as cover, and he's stepped up when we've needed him to. He's done what we've asked of him.

"So, fair play to the lad. We'll thank him for that, and we'll wish him well, wherever he ends up next."

Yang Min-Hyeok's future could hinge on Tottenham's relegation fate

As alluded to by Deez, Yang's lack of involvement at Coventry this term suggests that he could be best-suited to joining either a League One side, or a team in the lower reaches of the Championship, on loan next term.

How do you see Yang's future? Let us know in the comments!

However, Tottenham's decision on the 19-year-old's future may hinge on whether the North Londoners achieve Premier League survival, or if they are relegated to the Championship.

Spurs' top-flight survival hopes took a major dent when they were hammered 3-0 by fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest in their last match before the international break.

Should Tottenham suffer the drop to the Championship, several players, who would frankly rather play in the Champions League, will want to depart North London.

With that in mind, Spurs may have to retain Yang if they suffer relegation to the second tier, rather than facilitating another loan move.

Tottenham Hotspur are at risk of falling into the Championship this season following a dismal campaign under both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.

The London outfit are competing against West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United to remain in the top flight, with Burnley and Wolves all but confirmed to be going down in 19th and 20th.

Spurs finished 17th in the previous campaign, but finished 13 points clear of the bottom three, and they qualified for the Champions League anyway through their Europa League triumph.

However, it’s been another difficult league season for the club, who are facing the prospect of a second managerial sacking since Ange Postecoglou departed in the summer.

Thomas Frank was dismissed in February, with Igor Tudor coming in as his replacement to oversee the remainder of the term.

But the Croatian is now also facing the exit after suffering a fifth defeat in seven games in charge on Sunday when the team lost 3-0 to Forest.

It has been reported by Teamtalk that Spurs could turn to former Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton to take over from Tudor.

The 67-year-old is understood to be on the Premier League side's shortlist, alongside Austrian coach Adi Hutter, with Tim Sherwood and Ryan Mason also being considered as possible options.

It’s believed that a change in the dugout is likely, with the club currently enjoying a three week gap between league fixtures due to the international break and the FA Cup, which they have been eliminated from.

While results are a factor in the decision to look for a new coach to oversee the remainder of the season, a bereavement in Tudor’s family is also seen as a reason the need to look for replacements.

Could Chris Hughton keep Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League? Comment your opinion below

The Tottenham Hotspur boss’ father passed away during the weekend, and it’s being reported that he may walk away from his position as a result.

Hughton has been out of work for the last two years, with his most recent role coming as the Ghana national team manager.

His last club role was with the Reds, where he oversaw 14 wins from 53 games from October 2020 to September 2021.

Hughton also managed the likes of Newcastle United, Birmingham, Norwich City and Brighton in his career.

The 67-year-old began his coaching career at Spurs, where he even had three separate stints as interim manager.

The former Ireland international has spent 13 years with the London outfit as a player, making almost 400 appearances for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have left themselves scrambling for short-term solutions

There’s a very real possibility that Spurs go down this season given the level of their performances in the last few months.

Tudor hasn’t been able to affect any change in his seven games in charge, with his one victory coming as a consolation in the second leg of their Champions League elimination to Atletico Madrid.

Hughton knows the club well, but his recent managerial record isn’t inspiring either, and it might not be enough to stay ahead of 18th place West Ham.

His record at Nottingham Forest wasn’t especially impressive, nor did he achieve much at Birmingham or Norwich, and it would now be quite a turnaround if he played a role in the Reds’ survival in the Premier League by taking over Spurs.