Filed under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Alex McLeish has resigned from Birmingham and become the new favourite to take over at Aston Villa in what would be one of football's most controversial managerial changes.A Birmingham statement has revealed that that McLeish, who is now the overwhelming bookmaker's favourite to replace Gerard Houllier at Villa Park, has quit the St Andrew's club by email.
The statement read: "Birmingham City can confirm that Alex McLeish has resigned as manager.
"Acting chairman Peter Pannu received an email resignation from McLeish earlier today (Sunday) while away on business in Amsterdam."
The timing of McLeish's departure, just days after Roberto Martinez ruled himself out of the race to become Villa manager, could be coincidental. But then again it might not be.
McLeish, who took Birmingham to relegation last season but also won the Carling Cup, only signed striker Marlon King from Coventry on Friday, suggesting resignation was not in his thoughts 48 hours before he left.
His resignation comes just three weeks after he described Birmingham dropping into the Championship for the second time in his reign as "the worst feeling" in his career.
Birmingham and Aston Villa are two of the most bitter rivals in English football and while moving to Villa Park would make sense from a footballing point of view for McLeish, it would place the former Rangers and Scotland manager under huge pressure and focus.
Daily life would become extremely difficult for the Scot and owner Randy Lerner, who thought again about appointing Steve McClaren because of the reaction of the fans. It remains to be seen how they will react to being led by the former Birmingham manager.
McLeish took over at Birmingham in November 2007 and slipped to relegation at the end of that season.
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