Birmingham City issue '100 per cent' Steve Cotterill backing
Saturday 23 December 2017 10:15, UK
Birmingham's board have issued their "100 per cent" backing to manager Steve Cotterill, with the club bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.
Cotterill initially arrived at Birmingham as assistant to Harry Redknapp on a rescue mission to save the club from relegation to League One at the end of last season.
Birmingham survived, but the club's Chinese owners Trillion Trophy Asia opted to sack Redknapp in September after just 13 games in charge, with Cotterill returning to St Andrew's to become first-team manager.
The club's league position has worsened under Cotterill, Birmingham's fourth manager in under a year following the sacking of Gary Rowett last December, but the directors have pledged their "full commitment" to him.
He is leading the team in the right direction.
"We, of course, recognise we are going through a tough period that Steve has inherited, but we have no doubt that he will lead us through it," a club statement read on Saturday, ahead of Birmingham's trip to fellow relegation battlers Sunderland.
"He has also had to deal with an incredible amount of injuries and embark on a pre-season process during the season itself."
Redknapp was allowed to sign 14 players during the summer transfer window, and insisted the club could have achieved promotion to the Premier League when he was relieved of his duties in the west Midlands.
Birmingham chief executive Xuandong Ren insisted the longer Cotterill was in charge the more chance the club has of returning to the top flight at the manager's first press conference, urging the need for "stability".
But with just two wins from 11 games in charge, Birmingham fans have called for Cotterill to be sacked.
"We all see the hard work, effort and commitment of Steve and his staff on a daily basis and we have the utmost trust and faith in his and their qualities," the Birmingham board's statement continued.
"Our vision is to build on solid foundations which Steve is creating and we are determined to achieve success he and we all crave.
"He is leading the team in the right direction and it is important that everyone who cares passionately about this great club gets behind him and the players - together we are stronger."
