MANAGER TALK

Several managers have been linked with the vacant manager's job at Ashton Gate, and in the Press Talk section, bcfc.co.uk will track all those rumours. It should be noted that publication in this section is only a reflection of what is published in the media, and not the view of the club.

Round-up: Steve Coppell is the name on everyone's lips, including the BBC and the Bristol Evening Post. Keith Millen believes an appointment will be made quicker now the team's play-off hopes have been ended by defeat at Scunthorpe United. Full links below.

Former Reading boss Steve Coppell is set to be named as Bristol City's new manager. Coppell, 54, has won promotion to the top flight with both Crystal Palace and Reading during his managerial career. It is thought caretaker boss Keith Millen will remain on the coaching staff at Ashton Gate as his assistant.
BBC Sport

Keith Millen has confirmed defeat at Scunthorpe will hasten the arrival of Bristol City's new manager. Gary Hooper's hat-trick consigned the Robins to a 3-0 reverse at Glanford Park on Saturday, a result which ended the Championship club's faint hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs. Attention will now switch to the future and the appointment of a long-term successor to previous first team boss Gary Johnson, who left Ashton Gate by mutual consent last month. Former Reading supremo Steve Coppell is thrashing out the terms of a deal with City chairman Steve Lansdown The pair today resumed contract negotiations following a break yesterday and, providing personal terms are agreed, the one-time Manchester United and England star will be unveiled in the next few days at Ashton Gate. Millen, who served as caretaker manager for seven games following Johnson's departure, says he expects the new man to be installed ahead of Saturday's final home game against Derby County. "Things might have remained as they were for a little longer had we beaten Scunthorpe and still been in contention for the play-offs," said Millen. "Had that been the case, the chairman would maybe have delayed making the change and told us to carry on doing what we were doing to see if we could have made the top six.
Bristol Evening Post

OTHER NEWS

LOUIS Carey's first thought was for friend and colleague Keith Millen after City's faint play-off hopes were consigned to dust at Glanford Park. Although results elsewhere served to render City's chances of gate-crashing the Championship's top six notional, the captain was nevertheless bitterly disappointed that Millen's spell as caretaker manager should come to an end in such a limp fashion. Unbeaten in six games under Gary Johnson's former assistant, the Robins banished fears of a prolonged battle against relegation and established themselves as challengers to promotion contenders Swansea, Blackpool and Middlesbrough. But Gary Hooper's hat-trick put paid to any lingering hope that City might emulate their achievement of two seasons ago, when they reached the play-off final, and served to spoil Millen's hitherto unblemished record. Defeat in Lincolnshire will hasten the arrival of the new manager and Millen will almost certainly find himself in a different role when Derby County visit Ashton Gate next weekend. "It's a shame we couldn't have kept the unbeaten run going for Keith," admitted centre-back Carey.
Bristol Evening Post

Gary Hooper thanked his pals for helping him get the hat-trick which put Scunthorpe on the brink of safety. The striker fired home in the 19th, 55th and 70th minutes to move his side four points clear of the drop zone. Hooper, 22, then dedicated his treble to the family and friends who came to watch. He said: "My family were all watching. My dad's mate was matchball sponsor, so he probably gave me good luck - he can come every week."
The Sun

Hat-trick hero Gary Hooper admitted his head has been turned by the speculation surrounding his future - but insists he's in no rush to leave. Hooper, 22, took his season's haul to 17 as he extinguished Bristol City's faint hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs. And his exploits have led to a cluster of teams like Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers and Derby trailing the Iron striker. Hooper said: "It would turn anyone's head, wouldn't it? It's in the back of your mind, but I've still got a year left on my contract with Scunny, which is up at the end of next season."
Mirror

Bristol City defender Christian Ribeiro insists a call-up to the Wales national side is very unlikely, despite impressing recently. The youngster has shown he is more than capable of holding a regular starting berth for the Robins next season after breaking into the side last month. However, despite Wales boss John Toshack's mindset being to give youth a chance, the 20-year-old says that he is only focused on doing well for City and that his senior international career may have to take a back seat for now. "Everything is a bonus at the moment, but as long as I can continue to play well for Bristol City and get some more Championship games under my belt then I will be happy," Ribeiro said.
Sky Sports