Steve Cotterill linked to Birmingham role

Steve Cotterill is among the names being linked to the newly-vacant manager role at St Andrew’s.

Alex McLeish tendered his resignation to Birmingham City via email yesterday with two years to go on his contract.

Birmingham has now made moves to hold talks with Portsmouth manager Cotterill, according to Sky Sports News. Other potential candidates are Gianfranco Zola and Billy Davies, who was sacked from Nottingham Forest over the weekend.

Speculation today has suggested that McLeish may be on his way across the city to replace Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa, although Birmingham chairman Peter Pannu has stated that the club has not granted permission for him to hold talks with any suitors.