Had you arrived at St Andrew’s on Saturday having not read any news in the previous week, you would not have known Birmingham had a new manager. As Gianfranco Zola walked towards the dugout there was no fanfare, no introduction, no real hearty welcome from the home supporters. Some handshakes, a couple of autographs, a few more photographers than usual, but the fans of Birmingham did not greet their new leader like a new hero, arriving in town to save the day.
That is at least partly because not many of them can really work out why Zola is there. Gary Rowett, the manager who took over two days after an 8-0 defeat left them second bottom of the Championship in 2014, but departed with Birmingham as promotion contenders, was sacked last week, to the surprise of most. Much of Rowett’s time coincided with the club going through one of the most protracted takeover processes in recent memory, so when the new owner, Trillion Trophy Asia, finally gained control this year, Birmingham might have expected a little more stability. Perhaps not.
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