Yahoo News Birmingham City could be set for 17 reunions after relegation to League One
Birmingham City could reunite with a host of former players and managers having been consigned to League One football next term. All connected with Blues hope that their spell in England's third tier will be nothing more than a whistle-stop tour in which the club can reinvent their culture, begin rebuilding the squad and develop a winning formula with momentum akin to Ipswich Town.
That's the hope. Blues have a big summer ahead of them on the recruitment front, if they're to - as is the aim - hit the ground running once League One commences in August. Like in the Championship, once the games begin the punishing schedule dictates that there is no let up. Blues will face a different sort of challenge in League One, in which they'll be a big fish and many sides' cup final.
There'll be plenty of familiar faces, too, as many as 17 football figures who have once called St Andrew's their home in one era or another. Some of them are currently in the League One play-offs, others in the League Two play-offs, while others still are out of contract with their current clubs. Still, Bluenoses will see names and faces they once recognised - even if for some it was brief - as one of their own.
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Beryly Lubala has made a career for himself after failing to make the grade at Blues. He initially joined Crawley Town where he made an impact before earning himself a move to Blackpool. After a single season with Burton Albion, he's now with EFL Trophy finalists Wycombe Wanderers.
At Cambridge United, there is a reunion already in place. Blues favourite Michael Morrison is back at the club he came through the ranks in and has been joined this past season by his old boss Garry Monk. Monk has been waiting for his next challenge after leaving Sheffield Wednesday and he and Morrison helped to steer the U's to safety.
At Leyton Orient is Jordan Graham, who signed a two-year deal when he left St Andrew's last summer. Winger Graham played 54 times for Blues across two years under Lee Bowyer and then John Eustace but he had to drop down to the third tier after being released. His old teammate George Friend, meanwhile, has retired from playing since leaving Blues but is now the sporting director of Bristol Rovers. Also there, although he is out of contract, is one-time loanee Scott Sinclair.
Charlie Lakin's time at Burton Albion could be coming to an end. His contract is up but on the basis that he is offered fresh terms, Blues could see him next term - the Brewers nervously staved off relegation on the final day of the regular season despite being heavily defeated. Also at Burton is former Blues loan midfielder Rekeem Harper.
At Charlton Athletic, Blues could bump into Chuks Aneke. The striker reunited with Bowyer when he joined Blues in 2021 and scored in the 5-0 rout of now Premier League side Luton Town early that season, but he immediately returned to the Addicks months later and is still there.
Harlee Dean is also contracted to Reading for another year, although it remains to be seen what his future holds with the Royals having played just a couple of minutes this calendar year under Ruben Selles. Dean made 200 appearances and captained Blues during his six-year stay.
Then come the possible reunions - they'll depend on how the current play-off campaigns pan out in Leagues One and Two. Barnsley are likely to find themselves in the third tier again unless they can overcome a first-leg deficit to Bolton (where Cameron Jerome remains on the books). Blues academy lad Corey O'Keeffe and flop striker Sam Cosgrove currently ply their trade at Oakwell.
In the other semi-final, between Peterborough United and Oxford United, at least one of former boss and Posh director of football Barry Fry or Oxford defender (and this year a Burton loanee) Steve Seddon will find their clubs in the same division next season. In League Two, Doncaster Rovers are in pole position to reach their Wembley final and they have Kyle Hurst in tow. Former loanee winger Jonathan Leko, meanwhile, is on the books of MK Dons.
