Steve Cotterill appointed Birmingham City manager

Steve Cotterill has succeeded Harry Redknapp as Birmingham City manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The former Burnley and Bristol City boss was Redknapp's assistant at St Andrew's for the final three games of last season, when Birmingham avoided relegation on the final day.

Redknapp wanted Cotterill to carry on in the role this season, but he refused because he wanted to be a manager in his own right.

Lee Carsley had taken over first-team duties as caretaker manager at Birmingham following Redknapp's dismissal, taking four points from his two games in charge, and will oversee Saturday's Sky Bet Championship match at Hull City before Cotterill formally takes over on Monday.

Aitor Karanka was viewed as a strong contender for the job but the Blues decided not bring in the Spanish coach after an interview at the club.

Birmingham chief executive Xuandong Ren said: "A lot of quality candidates applied for the manager position and we underwent a very, very careful and meticulous process of selection.

"We have every faith in Steve Cotterill to help us achieve the ambitions we all share.

"We are also delighted that Lee Carsley will be Steve's assistant manager and, with the rest of the management team, we are excited about the future prospects, we are sure they can do a great job."

First-team coach Paul Groves and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock will stay as part of the rest of Cotterill's backroom staff, while Paul Williams, who Carsley brought in to assist him, will leave the club following this weekend's fixture.

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