Bristol City manager to step away for while on compassionate leave following the passing away of his baby son.
Bristol City boss Liam Manning will skip the side’s next match after taking compassionate leave.
Following the passing of his infant son, Theo, he is taking a leave of absence. In Manning’s absence, Chris Hogg, his assistant, will lead the Championship team.
The club said on Monday: “Everyone at Bristol City football club is deeply saddened by the passing of Liam’s recently born son Theo John Manning. We know that Bristol City’s supporters and the wider football family will share their condolences and deepest sympathy with Liam, his wife, Fran, and his son Isaac during this difficult period. We ask that the privacy of Liam and his family is respected during this time.”
Several clubs responded to the statement posted on social media, including city rivals Bristol Rovers. “Everyone at Bristol Rovers sends our love and sincerest condolences to Liam and the Manning family at this horrendously sad time.”
The England Under-21s’ game versus Azerbaijan on Tuesday is the next event scheduled to take place at Bristol City’s home stadium, Ashton Gate. The team, now ranked 16th in the second division, will play their next league match on Saturday at Middlesbrough, followed by a trip to Stoke on Tuesday.
Manning, 39, was given a four-year deal in November of last year to take over as Bristol City manager. Hogg, 39, coached at MK Dons, Oxford, and Bristol City with Manning. While playing for Ipswich’s academy, the two first became friends. George Burke, the former manager of the Ipswich team, is Hogg’s father-in-law. He declared last month that he was undergoing cancer treatment.