Sky Sports News sources understand Birmingham are seeking talks with Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill.
Portsmouth boss emerges as first name to be linked to St Andrews
Sky Sports News sources understand Birmingham are seeking talks with Portsmouth's Steve Cotterill regarding the manager's position at St Andrews.
Cotterill has emerged as a candidate to succeed Alex McLeish following the Scot's controversial decision to resign, reportedly by email, over the weekend.
Portsmouth only appointed Cotterill last June, but he earned much praise in stabilising the troubled Fratton Park club in 2010/11.
The 46-year-old steered Pompey to a respectable 16th place finish in the Championship in a season which only saw the club emerge from administration in late October.
Birmingham's watching hierarchy have been suitably impressed and are understood to want permission to talk to Cotterill, who could be unsettled in the wake of Convers Sports Initiatives' takeover at Portsmouth.
Last season's Carling Cup winners, Birmingham, were relegated from the Premier League and the club's acting chairman, Peter Pannu, has therefore implied that McLeish's resignation is an act of betrayal.
Birmingham believe that they showed great faith in the former Rangers boss, despite suffering the drop, and they consequently feel let down by the Scot's decision to walk away.
McLeish has been linked with a shock move to Midlands rivals Aston Villa as a result, but Pannu has said that he will not be allowed to talk to other club.
