Wednesday 22 June 2011

Hughton Set to Replace McLeish

Hughton and Jol at Spurs

Chris Hughton is set to his own way and expected to be confirmed as Birmingham City's new manager in the next 24 hours.

Following the appointment of Martin Jol as Fulham manger there was a suggestion that he might link up again with the his former Spurs boss. 

Hughton is close to tying up a deal to become Alex McLeish's replacement at St Andrew's. The former Newcastle United manager is believed to have edged ahead of Roberto Di Matteo in the battle to take charge of Blues.

Hughton has been out of football since parting company with Newcastle after a 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in early December despite the Magpies being in mid-table in the Premier League in their first year back in the top flight following promotion.

He has impressed Birmingham's acting chairman, Peter Pannu, when being interviewed during the past few days and City's owner, Carson Yeung, is expected to ratify Hughton's arrival.

It will be Yeung's first managerial appointment since taking control of Blues during the early part of the 2009-10 campaign.

Hughton will have the task of picking up the pieces at City after McLeish, who has taken over as manager of Aston Villa, resigned nine days ago.

Yeung is looking for Blues to regain their Premier League status at the first attempt, as was made clear to McLeish in a statement issued at the end of the season.

Hughton has plenty of experience at Championship level and guided Newcastle to promotion 13 months ago as champions. He was previously a member of the coaching staff at Tottenham and has also worked with the Republic of Ireland.


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