Birmingham City have confirmed that Tony Mowbray will not return to manage them in League One next season as he continues to battle illness. Mowbray was appointed by the Blues in January, shortly after he was sacked by Sunderland, but was forced to step back from the role after less than a month in charge.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that Mowbray will not be returning to the dugout next season, saying in a statement: “Birmingham City can confirm that Tony Mowbray has informed the club of his decision to stand down as men’s first team manager with immediate effect.

“Mowbray, who temporarily stepped away from his on-site management duties in February before taking a formal medical leave of absence in March, has decided to focus on making a full recovery from his surgery and spending time with his family.”