Birmingham City gave two weeks deadline to players for…

Birmingham City’s head coach, Chris Davies, has given his players two weeks to prove themselves after they return to training on July 1.

The former Tottenham Hotspur assistant was only chosen as the Blues’ new manager at the beginning of the month, and he has conceded that making a choice on some of the demoted side’s present roster would not take long.

The players are scheduled to return for pre-season training at the beginning of next month, and Davies wants to give them a two-week opportunity to establish themselves before finalising his transfer strategy.

The first week will be spent working with their new coach before traveling to Europe to play against SC Paderborn in Austria.

Some players who are still under contract may be moved on as Davies seeks to assemble a side capable of an immediate return to the second division.

Birmingham City are still waiting for comments from John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz on prospective new contracts, while League One rival Charlton Athletic seeks to sign the former for their own side.

What’s been said by the Birmingham City manager?

Speaking to BBC Radio West Midlands Sport, Davies discussed his plans;

“I think for me it won’t take long,”

“In terms of that first week of the training ground and then we’re going to Austria for a week, by the end of the trip to Austria, I’ll have a really good handle on the level of players I am working with.”

“The training sessions will all be designed to really see out how they cope and get to know them personally as well.”

“I’ll have a real clear idea of what we have in the building after Austria and that will give me more clarity on what we need to bring in to add to that to make sure we’ve got a really robust squad moving forward.”

Can Birmingham City bounce straight back?

Many commentators and bookmakers believe the Championship side will win League One next season, but following a difficult campaign and a new manager, it may take some time for them to adjust to a competitive and demanding league.

Fellow demoted clubs Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United have already spent heavily this transfer window, and sides that just lost out on promotion to the Championship last season will be hoping to do so again.

Wrexham and Stockport will also be seeking to build on their recent promotion from non-league to League One.

League One will not be as simple as in recent years. It is going to be a tight, competitive league in which anyone can score points against anyone else.

Davies needs to get to know the team quickly; teams are already making moves, and you might quickly find yourself targeting your 5th or 6th choice choices as your major targets move on.