Coventry La La La
New Member
Skysports.com understands Chris Hughton has won the race to be Birmingham's new manager and should put pen to paper on Wednesday.
Hughton is close to tying up a deal to become Alex McLeish'sreplacement at St Andrews with terms close to being agreed on a 12-month rolling contract.
The former Newcastle boss has edged ahead of rival candidate 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 Brom 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.
Impressed
He has impressed Birmingham acting chairman Peter Pannu when being interviewed during the past few days and City 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's resignation 10 days ago and he has since replaced Gerard Houllier as manager of Aston Villa.
Yeung is looking for Blues to regain their Premier League status at the first attempt, a feat achieved by Hughton while he was at the helm of the Magpies.