"Throw everything at it" - Steve Lansdown sent clear Bristol City message with Premier League in sight | OneFootball

Steve Lansdown has been urged to chase promotion with Liam Manning at the helm for Bristol City.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Bristol City supporters will be hoping that this is the season they can finally break their duck and secure a play-off spot.

Since they were promoted from League One in 2014-15, they have been the archetypal mid-table team. Never at threat of relegation, but always struggling to bridge that gap between themselves and those fighting it out at the top of the league.

This season, they are one of many in a tight battle for that fifth and sixth spot, and currently, they're just two points off Blackburn Rovers after they saw off Middlesbrough 2-1 last Friday night.

Despite being in their strongest position in nearly a decade, supporters remain expectant and will have been disappointed that Steve Lansdown chose not to fund any new signings in January.

This decision could come back to haunt Liam Manning’s side this season, but they still have a solid foundation to build on. The owner would have plenty of backing if he were to provide the head coach with the funds needed to turn their ambitions into reality across the next few years as the Robins finally look to push towards Premier League football.

However, whether this will become a reality remains unclear as it has been well documented that the owner is willing to sell the club should the right offer arrive.

Steve Lansdown urged to support Liam Manning in achieving their shared goals

To gain an Ashton Gate perspective on what Steve Lansdown should do, Football League World asked their resident Robins pundit, Jack Buchanan, what one message he would send to the 72-year-old.

To this, he replied: "My one message would be: throw everything at it.

"We haven't had a crack at promotion or a chance since 2019, and I think this is the time. Manning is the man to do it if we are going to make it in the next few years.

"We need to back him over the next three to four years. I know it is a process, and I don't expect to go up this season by any means.

"We have to do what Forest did – gamble. If it doesn't pay off, we have another couple of years of resetting, where we bring in a Nigel Pearson-type character.

"We have the right set-up, it is the right time, and the right core squad to hopefully get this done if we go all in."

Steve Lansdown may not want it enough

Steve Lansdown has been a brilliant owner for Bristol City, guiding them into the modern era with a pristine stadium, and they are now firmly established as a Championship club.

However, if he is willing to sell, is his focus truly still on the club, or is he looking for a way out?

It seems unlikely that he will put much more of his own money into purchasing players, so the Robins' player fund may have to come from self-generated revenue. If this is the case, then we will see more transfer windows like that last one.

This seems like a pivotal moment in Lansdown's tenure. Either he sticks to the cause and backs his talented head coach, or he looks to move the club on into new hands.