EFL Championship · Championship · Bristol, Bristol, England · Ashton Gate Stadium

Bristol City Football Club

A proud West Country club backed by the Lansdown family's sustained investment, Bristol City have established themselves as Championship regulars at their redeveloped Ashton Gate home, reaching the play-offs in 2024-25 for the first time in 17 years and harbouring genuine ambitions of reaching the Premier League.

Updated March 17, 2026

Gerhard Struber rebuilds after Liam Manning's departure

Bristol City were forced into a managerial reset after Liam Manning left for Norwich City following a sixth-place finish and play-off qualification in 2024-25. Gerhard Struber was appointed on a three-year contract and tasked with maintaining the progress Manning had built. The Robins have been competitive but inconsistent under Struber, sitting in mid-table and trying to find an identity that can sustain a promotion challenge.

Play-off heartbreak fuels renewed ambition at Ashton Gate

The 6-0 aggregate demolition by Sheffield United in the 2024-25 play-off semi-finals left deep scars at Ashton Gate. That humiliation, combined with Manning's exit, could have derailed the club entirely, but the front office responded with measured investment and a clear plan. Bristol City's supporters, who have waited since 1980 for top-flight football, continue to show up in numbers, sustaining belief that the Championship's glass ceiling can eventually be broken.