Season preview: Birmingham City

With the Championship season beginning this weekend, Sports Mole casts its eye over Birmingham City's summer and their prospects for the 2013-14 campaign.

In:

Tom Adeyemi (from Norwich, Free), Neil Eardley (from Blackpool, Free), Matt Green (from Mansfield, Free), Oliver Lee (from Barnet, Free), Lee Novak (from Huddersfield, Free), Darren Randolph (from Motherwell, Free), Andrew Shinnie (from Inverness, Free), Kyle Bartley (from Swansea City, Loan), Dan Burn (from Fulham, Loan), Scott Allan (from West Bromwich Albion, Loan), Shane Ferguson (from Newcastle United, Season-long loan)

Out:

Akwasi Asante (to Shrewsbury Town, Loan), Curtis Davies (to Hull City, £2.25m), Nathan Redmond (to Norwich City, £3.2m), Steven Caldwell (to Toronto, Free), Deqwon Ebanks (to Tamworth, Free), Olly Grant (to Barnet, Free) Fraser Kerr (to Motherwell, Free), Jack Deaman (Released), Keith Fahey (Released), Morgaro Gomis (Released), Graham Hutchison (Released), Pablo Ibanez (Released), Adam Rooney (Released), Stephen Carr (Retired)

Last Season: 12th

Manager: Lee Clark

Three key players:

© PA Photos

Darren Randolph - The 26-year-old signing from Motherwell has plenty experience of English football, having played for Charlton Athletic and a whole host of other clubs on loan. He will no doubt be charged with the task of helping to plug a particularly leaky rearguard from last term that shipped 69 goals in 46 outings, leaving the Blues with a -6 goal difference. Standing at 6'1", he shouldn't lose too many battles in the air.

© PA Photos

Kyle Bartley - Losing the services of Curtis Davies to Hull City is a real blow for Clark's men. The 28-year-old was a solid defender and over the course of a campaign was also worth a handful of goals. His place is likely to be given to loanee Bartley, who has been schooled by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. If Birmingham are to make a push for the playoffs this time around, Bartley will have to form a good understanding with his fellow defenders.

© PA Photos

Lee Novak - Due to financial constraints, it appears that Birmingham will be forced to part with Marlon King, who netted 14 goals in all competitions last time out. Novak has never been the most prolific of goalscorers, but Clark will be hoping that the 24-year-old can replicate King's form from the past two seasons. He is certainly a striker who will work extremely hard for the cause and not give defenders a second to settle in possession.

First game: Watford (H), Complete fixture list

Sports Mole says: For parts of last season the Second City outfit flirted with relegation, but a strong ending to the campaign saw them finish halfway. There has been a large number of comings and goings at St Andrew's so far, but Clark's hands have been tied financially and so he has had to gamble on the likes of Matt Green, who did well in the Conference last season. Their home form was poor during 2012-13 as they won just seven times. If that changes, then they could perhaps finish slightly higher this time around.

Predicted finish: 11th