Town’s boss speaks up for lower-league coaches

Cooper, a former Birmingham player himself, was one of the names linked with the St Andrews job, but the Blues have plumped for Rowett, a man who has led Burton to the League Two play-offs in each of the last two seasons.

Rowett’s appointment comes on the heels of Russell Slade’s ascension to the Cardiff City job and Cooper thinks it is refreshing that lower-league talent is being given a chance at English football’s bigger clubs.

“It’s about time. There are some really good managers down there,” said Cooper.

“You look at League One and League Two, there are some brilliant young coaches.

“Look at what’s going on at Leeds. Why are they appointing somebody from Serbia (Darko Milanic) when the answer is on your doorstep?

“The manager that they had in place (Neil Redfearn) won god knows how many games, then gets overlooked and now he ends up getting the job again.

“So they’ve wasted six games because they have to go for a sexy name. There are some really good coaches and really good managers under the noses of these clubs.

“I think the fact that Gary (Rowett) has already played for Birmingham for five years and he’s done such a good job at Burton, has brought that to their attention.

“It’s a great time to get that job, they got beat 8-0 so it can only get better. He’ll be rubbing his hands together.”

Following Milanic’s unceremonious ousting at Leeds, Redfearn has been re-appointed to the top job. Before the Serbian’s appointment, Cooper had been linked with the role himself.

But having now seen the treatment dished out to Redfearn and Milanic, the Town boss has no desire to work at Elland Road under current owner Massimo Cellino.

“I heard the comments from a Leeds’ legend Johnny Giles, saying (Cellino) should be forced out of English football and he’s right,” added Cooper. “That is one of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s been made a laughing stock.”