Birmingham City have reacted to the sudden resignation of boss Alex McLeish by lining up their first target to replace the Scot - a man who has also experienced the hotbed of Old Firm football. Acting chairman Peter Pannu has today been speaking to his counterpart Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough in an attempt to prise manager Tony Mowbray away from the Riverside. Mowbray has previously enjoyed success in the Birmingham area with West Bromwich Albion, with whom he won the Championship in 2008.
Mowbray only joined Boro last season and has impressed with his values of integrity and humility, as well as his expansive vision of football, which dragged the Teesiders away from a relegation battle. He is a hero in the area having famously captained the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and though it would be a wrench for him to leave his beloved club, the financial constraints imposed upon him due to the lack of parachute payments in the following season have made him consider a move south.
Pannu has promised "Mogga" a warchest of up to £15m to bolster the Blues squad as they seek to make an immediate return. They have already signed Chris Burke and Marlon King, and are on the verge of sealing the signature of targetman Danny Koevermans from PSV Eindhoven. There has also been an undertaking from the City board that the likes of Ben Foster, Scott Dann and Roger Johnson will only depart if an astronomical offer comes in - a bid of £6m for Johnson from local rivals Wolves has already been flatly rejected.
The sway of European football could also tempt Mowbray as he failed to make an impact in this regard during his ill-fated spell at Celtic. Understandably, negotiations are at an early stage but the willingness of Mowbray to listen to what Birmingham have to say could point to an unlikely move.
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