Bristol City manager Liam Manning to take leave after death of baby son

The Bristol City head coach, Liam Manning, is taking a period of leave after the death of his baby son, Theo. Manning’s assistant, Chris Hogg, will take charge of the Championship side in his absence.

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 next game to be played at Ashton Gate, Bristol City’s home stadium, is the England Under-21s match against Azerbaijan on Tuesday. The club, who are 16th in the second tier, resume their league season at Middlesbrough on Saturday before a trip to Stoke next Tuesday.

Manning, 39, was appointed last November as Bristol City manager on a four-year contract. Hogg, 39, has coached alongside Manning at MK Dons, Oxford and Bristol City. The pair first met playing for Ipswich’s academy. Hogg’s father-in-law is the former Ipswich manager George ­Burley, who announced last month he was having cancer treatment.