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It’s Cott to be Steve

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While Steve Cotterill`s appointment as Birmingham City manager isn`t a ground breaking one for the club, it is a sensible one. Fans on social media have worn their fingers out criticising the club`s choice but, make no mistake about this, the club could do a lot worse.

Cotterill`s CV shows five promotions, zero relegations. Admittedly, his successes have been achieved a tier or two below where Blues currently sit but a promotion is a promotion.

While some ardent Bluenoses may not be inspired by the unveiling of a man who was sacked from the Bristol City hotseat, the realists in the terraces will realise that Blues are a club in desperate need of stability.

Scrap all this talk of promotion. Harry Redknapp had clearly been on the pop again. Birmingham City should concentrate on a solid mid-table finish. Cotterill is more than capable of delivering that.

The 53 year-old played a big part in preserving Blues` Championship status last season and it`s no coincidence that the Redknapp regime nosedived after Cotterill`s departure.

Many of the players built a rapport with Cotterill in the short time he spent as Redknapp`s number two. On the final day of last season at Ashton Gate, Cotterill was the figurehead on the sidelines offering direction and encouragement.

With Lee Carsley as his right hand man, Blues have two very highly respected coaches overseeing team affairs. When the coming weekend is done and dusted, Cotterill will make his formal introduction to the playing squad that has, on paper, improved since he last addressed the squad in May.

Carsley deserves our utmost respect and appreciation for steadying the ship in the immediate aftermath of Redknapp`s exit. Four vital points from his first two games in temporary charge is a good return before we even contemplate events at Hull City tomorrow.

For personal reasons, Carsley opted not to take the job that was put in front of him. However, keeping him involved in first team matters was priority for Cotterill – he knows the attributes the former Blues captain possesses on the training pitch.

Cotterill has put pen-to-paper on a two-and -a-half year contract at St. Andrews. It would be a refreshing change to witness a manager seeing out the entirety of his agreed term at the helm. That in itself would offer some much needed security.

His appointment will be a boost to the players already here last term – the players his predecessor did so well chastising. Blues have a pretty decent squad now and with the likes of Jota, Che Adams, Jason Lowe and David Stockdale still to come back from injury, the new manager will be pleased with the talent at his disposal.

Welcome once again to the second city, Steve, and good luck.

FOLLOW ROB ON TWITTER @wild3y86

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