The appointment of Chris Hughton as the new Birmingham boss is probably the wisest appointment the Blues board could have made.
The former-Newcastle boss had been linked with lots of vacant positions in recent months and has now finally landed a big job.
Asked if promotion was his ambition he told Sky News: “Yes, (my remit is to get the club promoted). We know it will be a tough task. I hope I can do it.
“It’s a tough season, a very tough division. I feel you want to work at a club where you have a good chance of getting back where this club wants to be and belongs. I feel I have that here. The ultimate aim is to get back into the Premier League, and the job starts now.”
Hughton will be under pressure to help the Blues to promotion next season but he was under the same sort of pressure when he took over at Newcastle. He knows how to handle pressure at a big club.
Chris Hughton has experience of being in charge of a side who have just been relegated, having taken charge of Newcastle United after they were relegated in 2009. He helped the club to promotion despite losing a lot of quality players.
A number of his squad are being linked with a return to the Premier League. Centre-back partnership Scott Dann and Roger Johnson are the players being most heavily linked with moves away from St Andrews.
The pair are believed to be attracting interest from Arsenal. Liverpool-born defender Dann is also attracting the interest of his boyhood club Liverpool. Former-England keeper Ben Foster is also being linked with a reunion with former-Brum boss Alex McLeish at Aston Villa.
Former-boss Alex McLeish did a decent job at St Andrews. However towards the end of his tenure in charge the team looked stale and in need of a change. Although Hughton hasn’t got the same managerial experience as the Scot he has been a coach for along time.
This is a big opportunity for Chris Hughton to rebuild his managerial career after being harshly fired by Newcastle United. Birmingham are one of the biggest clubs in the Championship.
Even if they do sell some of their better players the Blues will still be left with a decent squad of players. And I’m sure the new boss will be given funds to spend from the sale of the players who head through the St Andrews exit door.
I have been a fan of Chris Hughton as a boss for awhile. The way he dealt with his sacking from Newcastle showed that he is a man of dignity and I’m sure he will show the same dignity in his role as Birmingham boss.
I don’t think many Birmingham fans will be disappointed with the appointment of Chris Hughton. He may not be a glamorous appointment but I believe he will be successful at St Andrews.
