Interesting article from Footy365...

Promotion is supposed to create a feel-good factor, but it was not universal at Birmingham in May, after they held on against Reading on the final day. Alex McLeish could not save City from relegation in 2007-08, and there are plenty of doubters at St Andrew's who feel he will not fare any better this time around.

It did not help that he succeeded a manager who jumped in Steve Bruce, rather than one who was pushed. When he took over, Birmingham were 16th, and he won his first match in charge. Yet still they went down.

Why is he 4-1 favourite to be the first Premier League manager to lose his job? Because the bookmakers do not fancy his team's chances and know that a poor start will quickly bring discontent back to the stands.

After a 1-0 home defeat to Blackpool in September last year, the crowd reacted. "If I was a supporter I'd have booed as well," McLeish said. It's a sound he could get used to again, but he is not without a hope or a record of managerial achievement.

The Scot, twice a winner of the SPL with Rangers and the man who took Scotland heartbreakingly close to Euro 2008, has now shaken up the squad, in a way he could not do in 2007-08 after taking over at the end of November. He was able to take a good look at the Premier League that season and the board have backed him as he seeks to buy a squad to survive. With so many changes, the St Andrew's stables have been cleansed of much of the stench of failure that could have lingered overpoweringly from the 2006 and 2008 relegations.

The gift of Joe Hart, loaned from Manchester City, could be invaluable. Roger Johnson, twice Cardiff's player of the year, has been signed for £5m. The 22-year-old Scott Dann, who has risen up via Walsall and Coventry, should also strengthen the defence in front of the England Under-21 goalkeeper. There's even a central defender with World Cup finals experience signed from Barcelona (though Giovanny Espinoza comes from his native Ecuador's team of that name, not the European champions).

Pre-season has not gone well, with problems over Christian Benitez's work permit and an initial shortage of goals. Perhaps the late arrival of Benitez will make a difference, as he has a fine scoring record both for Ecuador and at club level. (Mind you, the same was true of Southampton's erstwhile striker Agustin Delgado, as McLeish's old Old Firm sparring partner, Gordon Strachan, can testify.)

Some people believe you need a bit of devil to survive, and by signing Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer, McLeish has made sure that this quality will not be in short supply.

Goals may be, even with Benitez. Relegated Norwich outscored a Birmingham side 12th in the divisional goals chart last season. Marcus Bent's best was none too impressive, and he's long past it. Kevin Phillips is surely no longer a top-flight striker, but a promotion specialist, and he was the only player in double figures in the league last season. I don't put much store by friendlies - except when they emphasise an existing problem - and City's have done exactly that.

It is important that all the new players bed in quickly. Anything taken from the opening weekend trip to Old Trafford will be a bonus, but that is followed by home games against Portsmouth and Stoke. Lose either, or win neither, and the first match after the international break will have great significance.

The visit of Aston Villa on 13 September would always be an attention-grabber. But if the boos are ringing out at St Andrew's this September, then those odds on McLeish's departure could look spot on. The first target for McLeish should be reaching the second anniversary of his appointment, but he will be in immediate danger without some home success up to and including that Villa date.

This is one betting market where the favourite rarely wins - but McLeish looks good for a place in the first three, and his team for one in the bottom three under a successor.

Don't know where Footy 365 got that odd ball story from at all..,but P.Hart is 5/1 favourite (only 7/2 with Paddy Power) M.Hughes 11/2 A. McLeish 7/1 with both Blue Square and and 888 Sport (and lets face it no one in the right mind will take 4/1 when 7/1 is available !), P.Brown 15/2 G.Megson 11/1....it could be that Footy 365 didn't do their homework very well ...if at all..?
K.R.O.

7-1 for Eck is a giveaway. I'm having me some of that..

None of the above takes into account the stubbornness of our Board. The odds on Big Eck still being boss next season even if we are relegated would be more interesting

get your money on phill brown for me... the guy is losing the plot! the more I see him the more he turns into david brent

I'd agree with you Devon. The Board are notoriously supportive, and having given him all that dosh will give him time. Mind you, the Board were also notoriously parsimonious with the money, so has the leopard changed it's spots ?

Out of nowhere Benitez is now 2/1 favourite to be the next manager to go,obviously its down to 'behind the scenes scenario' then Hart 4/1..Brown 5/1 ..McLeish 7/1..Zola 10/1...14/1 bar the five..
K.R.O.

There have been a lot of rumours flying around about Benitez.

On talkSPORT yesterday they were discussing rumours about a high profile manager maybe being the first surprise casualty of the season.

Don't know what Skybet 'know' but Benitez is 1/2 with them ...!!
K.R.O.

I think there's a big behind the scenes battle going on about the size of his transfer pot. Somebody let it be known that he only had £1.5 mill left to spend and I'd bet it was him. I think, he thinks, that he's being asked to deliver the PL title but without the financial muscle of his rivals.

It's why Gary Barry is now a ManC player and not a Liverpool one after all.

mm..just £1.5 million...Marcus Bent...would Blue let him go for £1.5 milion..?
K.R.O.

Did Skybet 'press the panic button' far too quickly. ..Benitez on the drift 11/8 with Skybet but Ladbrokes have him priced up at 5/1 !...now Hart has shortened up now and is best priced at 3/1
K.R.O.

my moneys on mr hart!

What price Steve McManaman to be the next BCFC Director of Football, Sid?

how about oneil at the villa? some grumbles coming from that side of town!!

Well....there might be 'something in the air' and I dont mean Thunderclap Newman !...NO bookmakers are quoting on this market at the moment,we will see what tomorrow brings...
K.R.O.

Interesting.....doubt if you would gets odds for that...

K.R.O.

Blarney is 16/1 with Skybet this morning,they are the only ones who have the market priced up at the moment.
K.R.O.

Hart now best priced 5/2.....Benitez 5/1 then both Brown and AM 7's..Megson 9/1...Moyes 12/1..Zola 14/1 ..20/1 bar the seven..
K.R.O.

Looks like we may well have got through August without a Premiership manager going..??,latest odds available : Hart 7/4...Megson 3/1...Benitez 4/1...Brown 15/2...AM 8/1..Moyes 10/1...Martinez 14/1....Blarney and Zola both 20's...
K.R.O.

big eck on goals on Sunday this morning... seems a genuine guy, honest about our chances... I like him!

Don't know if you are a shareholder or not....?, but got the details of the share offer etc. and Grandtop say ''they anticipate continuing to work with the executive directors of Birmingham City''....''that Karen Brady will continue in her role as managing director..''...''the Grandtop directors intend to give the existing manager of the Club Alex McLeish and his team of backroom staff their full suport''.....think AM's job will be safe till the end of the season at least then they will take stock of it then ?
K.R.O.

Hart now 5/4...Brown 2/1...Megson 6/1....AM out to 11/1...Martinez 16/1...Benitez & Zola 22's and 28's bar the seven..
K.R.O.

Odds shortening now on both Hart and Brown...11/10 and 11/8,Megson out to 9/1..AM still on 11's,and Zola stays on 22's but McCarthy now at 25/1..
K.R.O.

september nearly finished and still no prem manager casualties!!

Phil Brown won't get the sack, his Chairman has just publicly backed him.




Oh, hold on..

Not many firms have the market priced up at the moment but those who do: Brown,Hart and Rednnapp are all 9/4...(wonder if there were any takers on Harry boy...?) AM and Megson 20's, then Martinez,Zola and McCarthy all 25's....33/1 bar the eight.
K.R.O.

big eck could be a good bet @ 20's... the new owners might not give him much time when they come in?

Yes, but then they'd end up giving him the spare £5m in cash they had for terminating his contract..

This market is very volatile at the moment and changes virtually by the hour,latest:
Brown 2/1...Redknapp 9/4...Hart 5/2...AM from 20's now into 8/1 (don't know if there has been any sizable bets from the far east..!) Zola 12/1...Megson 16/1..McCarthy 20/1..
K.R.O.

I think Hart, Brown and especially Redknapp are safe, Harry would have to shag Levy's son to get the push at Spurs.

I'd be backing Hart if I played, can't see how he is safe at all.

Have you developed a soft spot for Pompey Panj?!

It's the British side of me that likes an underdog, Dazza. Plus I like how they play the game, even when they weer losing at home to Everton to go six games without a point they still played the ball on the floor, and that takes a lot of erm, heart..

Avram Grant in is talks to rejoin Pompey apparently.

Not sure if this is as a manager or not...

Not initially...

I reckon this could still go tits up for Portsmouth. Looks like Grant may well be installed as a manager, but the quality at his disposal will be a tad different to that which he had at The Bridge.

Hart into 15/8...Brown steady at 2/1..Harry on the drift to 7/2...AM and Zola stay on 8's and 12's..Megson into 14/1...McCarthy and Benitez available at 20's..
K.R.O.

I feel for Hart, I really do, I think in time he'd turn things around at Pompey but the Avram-sponsored clock is ticking very loudly behind him, now.

I wonder who Mr Yeung will get as a Director of football when he moves house? Probably Knowing our luck it'd probably be David Pleat..


Oh, the joy..

Punters' Lounge, anyone?

hart to get the push, AM to be shot at dawn

The football loving Hart to become our saviour

No bookmakers are quoting the market at present...
K.R.O.

Hart 15/8..Brown 9/4....AM shortened to 11/2. !..Zola 7/1...'Harry' 15/2...Megson 12/1...Benitez 18/1..McCarthy 20/1..
K.R.O.

Hart 2/1...Brown 5/2...Zola 3/1...!!..AM..13/2..Benitez 9/1..Megson 10/1...Martinez 14/1...'Harry' out to 16/1...then its 20's for Ancelotti,McCarthy and Moyes..
K.R.O.

Somebody has to get the chop soon, surely after 9 games in, one charman will panic.

I think you can completely rule out Ferguson, Wenger, and a few others who will be highly unlikely such as O'Neill, Pulis, Coyle and Moyes. I really can't understand why Redknapps price shortened, unless it was his money. I can't see Mick McCarthy or Steve Bruce going either.

For me Benitez will be out soon, I don't think he's that good a manager, and Liverpool really are crap, and if they don't do well in Champs League, it'll be adios. Zola doesn't seem as enthusiastic as he used to. But I think it's going to be a suprise name, put your kids christmas present money on.......

Hodgson, Allardyce or even Martinez.

We could get through October without a Premiership manager leaving...!!,wonder when that last happened..?
K.R.O...

Ancelotti is on thin ice...

So what, Chops? McLeish is on heroin.

You've spelt 'our hero innit' wrong Bloopy.

Leeve it owt, No Shoo- my spalling is fawltlesse.

I'd say McLeish is a certainty for the sack before Christmas. Mr Yeung ain't gonna sit around and watch his investment slip slowly into the Championship, nosireebob..