Bristol City head coach Liam Manning has announced that he will be taking a period of leave following the devastating loss of his baby son, Theo. In his absence, assistant coach Chris Hogg will step in to take charge of the Championship club.

In a statement released by the club on Monday, it was said, “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.”

The football community rallied around Manning and his family, with clubs such as city rivals Bristol Rovers offering their support. “Everyone at Bristol Rovers sends our love and sincerest condolences to Liam and the Manning family at this horrendously sad time,” the club stated in response to the news.

The next game scheduled at Ashton Gate, Bristol City’s home stadium, is the England Under-21s match against Azerbaijan on Tuesday. The club, currently sitting in 16th place in the league, will resume their Championship season with a match against Middlesbrough on Saturday followed by a trip to Stoke next Tuesday.

Manning, 39, took over as Bristol City manager last November on a four-year contract. His partnership with Hogg, 39, dates back to their time coaching together at MK Dons, Oxford, and now Bristol City. The two first crossed paths while playing for Ipswich’s academy. It is worth noting that Hogg’s father-in-law is the former Ipswich manager George Burley, who recently disclosed that he is undergoing cancer treatment.