Bristol City could require a "total rebuild" in the summer and need to appoint a sporting director, according to former Robins midfielder Gary Owers.
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They sit 16th in the Championship table after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home against West Bromwich Albion, and there were boos from fans amid frustration at the club's failure to build on last season's play-off place.
Earlier this month, new chief executive Charlie Boss said there were plans to appoint a sporting director, while head coach Gerhard Struber has recently lamented the gap between City's academy and their first team.
"Gerhard has been letting some things out calmly, shall we say," Owers told BBC Radio Bristol.
"He has been speaking about the academy, the sporting director and recruitment. There are some big conversations to be had between now and the end of the season.
"For City to progress it could be a total rebuild in the summer. It's pivotal [to get a sporting director appointed]. It might need someone from the outside with a fresh pair of eyes. Someone who knows the club but isn't connected to anyone on the inside."
Mark Sykes is among the City players whose contracts are due to expire this summer, while captain Jason Knight, Ross McCrorie and Max Bird will have just a year left on their deals so might have to be sold unless they re-sign.
On-loan players set to return to their parent clubs include Radek Vitek, who has been the Robins' first-choice goalkeeper this season.
"The big thing for me is the contract situations – the players that always seem to leave when they have a year left on their contracts," Owers added.
"The better players you want to keep, [but] we can't seem to secure those signatures and that is going to be a big area of work, as is scouting and recruitment.
"There are lots of things they can come in and improve and are going to have to get to work very quickly."
'City league position a wake-up call'
Owers, who spent four years at the club in the 1990s, understands why City supporters are asking questions of those in charge.
The loss to relegation strugglers West Brom was their fifth league game without a win.
"This time last year we were all getting excited about the play-offs and we had that to look forward to, even though it was a bit of an anticlimax. But we haven't got much of any excitement at the minute to end the season," he said.
"Hopefully, City can rally and finish strongly. The supporters quite rightly are asking questions at the moment and they need to get the fanbase back on board to some degree.
"They are all expectedly waiting to see who is going to be announced in this sporting director role, and hopefully that can be the start of some improvements.
"At the end of the game on Saturday, when I looked at the league table and saw City in 16th position that was a bit of a shock - it's a bit of a wake-up call for everybody."