Tom Brady's damning Wayne Rooney chat in never-before-seen footage speaks volumes - Birmingham Live

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However, he was sacked in January 2024 after just 15 games in charge as Birmingham tumbled down the Championship table before eventually being relegated to League One. Chris Davies took over as head coach manager last summer and achieved instant promotion back to the second tier.

A forthcoming documentary, 'Built in Birmingham: Brady and the Blues', is set to launch on Amazon Prime on Friday. Alongside a developing rivalry with fellow promotion-hopefuls Wrexham last term, the documentary showcases material from the Blues' relegation, which lays bare the owners' concerns about Rooney's leadership.

"I'm a little worried about our head coach's work ethic," Brady can be overheard telling business manager Ben Rawitz following a trip to the training ground while Rooney was in position. Rawitz, responding, indicates the manager "comes across as lackadaisical."

Brady is also captured addressing Rooney regarding worries about the team's commitment, informing the former England forward: "What's the difference between [American football] and soccer? Nothing. I treated practice like it was the Super Bowl. Put pressure on them, make them run for everything."

When Rooney took over at Birmingham in October 2023, they were in fifth place in the Championship. However, by January, when he was given the boot, they had plummeted to 20th and ultimately faced relegation on the final day of the campaign.

Reflecting on the experience, Brady said: "I had good advice, 'Don't go in there and make sweeping changes. You guys have time.' But we made sweeping changes that put us in decline. That was our doing."

Rooney didn't have to wait long for another shot at management in the Championship, taking charge of Plymouth Argyle last season. Again, his tenure was brief, ending in December with his sacking, with the Devon club being subsequently relegated.

Meanwhile, Birmingham flourished under Davies. The Blues stormed League One, setting a new record with 111 points, clinching 34 wins out of 46 games and finishing a huge 19 points clear of second-placed Wrexham.

After eight summer signings so far, including the return of Demarai Gray, Birmingham are expected to be very competitive in the Championship. The Blues begin their campaign at home against relegated Ipswich on Friday, August 8.