Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has insisted that he is not taking any "satisfaction" from Aston Villa's dreadful season in the Premier League.
The Birmingham rivals look destined to meet in the Championship next season, with Villa's relegation from the top flight likely to be confirmed during this weekend's round of fixtures.
"There are loads of jokes going around but I can't personally take any satisfaction. I know some of the fans will, I am sure," Rowett told Sky Sports News.
"You never want to see a proud club struggling, I saw the same with Derby County when they had their season in the Premier League. As a person who lives in the area it was not nice, a really painful season.
"What you hope is that any club that experiences that is able to come back a little bit stronger, because it's a difficult slope. If you do end up in the Championship - to get back and not continue to slip a little bit more. Hopefully they will get that back."
Rowett's side currently sit ninth in the Championship, nine points adrift of the playoffs with six games of their season to play.
Neil Wilkes
