shantanu_rooney
Chairman of Selectors

Last Updated: 24 Dec, 2010
McLeish sacked as Birmingham manager





Alex McLeish has been relieved of his duties as Birmingham City manager with immediate effect, the club has confirmed on their official website.
Birmingham, who lost 3-2 at home to eighth-placed Tottenham, are currently 18th in the Premier League. Birmingham were 2-0 up against Spurs before Rafael van der Vaart, Niko Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe scored in the last 20 minutes. The hosts were booed off at the end and there were chants of "McLeish out".
A club statement read: "The decision has been taken in the light of the position the club finds itself in the Barclays Premier League at the halfway point of the season. Assistant manager Andy Watson and first-team coach Peter Grant have also decided to terminate their contracts by mutual consent."
"The club are hoping to appoint a new manager before the next match against Manchester United on Wednesday, till then goalkeeping coach David Watson and first-team coach Richard Beale will take charge of the first-team matters."
McLeish is the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season and the second in less than a fortnight, following Sam Allardyce's and Chris Hughton's sacking by Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United respectively and Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill resigning.
Sam Allardyce has been made the early favourite to take over at St. Andrews ahead of Trevor Francis, the former Birmingham City player and manager. Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer would seem to be an obvious candidate. Former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is another candidate for the job.
Birmingham City have some tough fixtures ahead. They face Manchester United in the midweek and then Liverpool on new year's day. Then the city derby against Aston Villa on the 4th and then the FA Cup 3rd round tie against Tottenham Hotspur at home.



