Former Hammers manager replaces another

Birmingham City have appointed Harry Redknapp as their new manager.

The ex-West Ham player and Manager succeeds former West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, who resigned on Monday following a 2-0 home defeat by Burton Albion.

Birmingham City, where Gold, Sullivan and Brady were all directors are currently 20th in the Championship, just three points above the relegation zone and they face local rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.

“Birmingham are a proper football club but they are in a precarious position,” 70-year-old Redknapp told TalkSport.

Redknapp’s appointment was announced just 16 hours after Zola’s departure, but the length of his contract has not yet been disclosed.

Redknapp, who will be assisted by former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill, told Talksport: “I got a phone call last night at 7pm from the people of Birmingham.

“I drove to London and had a 10-15 minute meeting with them and said ‘sure I’ll come and do it’. My wife said to me ‘are you mad or what?’ but I get fed up sitting around doing nothing.

“It’s a real challenge. I’ll come and live up there until the end of the season and if I keep them up then I’ll sit down and talk about next season. It’s not really a risk. They have won two out 22. I haven’t got a magic wand. I’m not going to turn them into Real Madrid. We need a win.”