Birmingham City are poised to appoint Scott Fry as their new set piece coach, with the highly-rated 33-year-old set to leave Rangers and join the Blues in pre-season. The move comes after a lengthy recruitment process that began at the start of the year.
Fry's Track Record at Rangers and Lincoln
Fry only joined Rangers last November after a highly successful spell leading set pieces for Lincoln City. During his time at Rangers, the team's set piece output improved significantly. Only Hearts bettered Rangers' tally of 19 goals from set pieces in the Scottish Premiership last season.
Before Rangers, Fry spent two years at Lincoln City, where the club topped League One for set piece goals in each of the last two seasons. His work contributed to Lincoln's promotion to the Championship under manager Michael Skubala. Fry initially joined Lincoln in 2022 as a goalkeeping coach, a role he had held for a long spell in Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy, before taking on set piece duties in 2024.
Blues' Set Piece Struggles
Birmingham City have been searching for a set piece coach since the start of the year after posting average statistics in the Championship last season. Set pieces have become increasingly important in modern football, with all four champions in England's professional leagues last season boasting the best set piece records in their respective divisions.
Blues supporters may recall Lincoln's effectiveness from set pieces firsthand: during a 3-1 victory at Sincil Bank in October 2024, Lincoln scored from a long throw-in within the first 60 seconds of the match. Fry was instrumental in devising such routines.
Impact of the Appointment
Fry's appointment is expected to bolster Birmingham City's set piece performance, both offensively and defensively. The club hopes his expertise will translate into more goals from dead-ball situations and improved defensive organization. With pre-season underway, Fry is set to begin work immediately to implement his strategies.
