BREAKING NEWS: Birmingham currently hold talks with 3-5-2 manager who’s never lost at St Andrew’s

Despite their disappointment, however, the Blues have now switched their attention towards finding a swift replacement. According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon, Birmingham are set to open talks with Paul Heckingbottom in the coming days over making the former Sheffield United boss their next manager.

Heckingbottom was sacked by Sheffield United earlier in the Premier League season and has since been linked with the likes of Sunderland, albeit whilst remaining without a job. An experienced manager in the EFL, Heckingbottom would be tasked with taking Birmingham straight back to the Championship next season.

Heckingbottom has promotion experience that Birmingham need

If Birmingham are to secure promotion back to the second tier at the first time of asking then welcoming a manager who knows all about doing exactly that is the way to do it. And Heckingbottom certainly knows how. The manager, who prefers to play a 3-5-2 formation, previously won the League One play-offs with Barnsley, defeating Millwall in the 2015/16 final. Meanwhile, he also knows a thing or two about winning at St Andrew’s.

It’s a three-game unbeaten run in Birmingham that Heckingbottom will be keen to keep hold of for as long as possible, especially if he steps into the dugout at St Andrew’s this summer.

The 46-year-old certainly ticks a fair few boxes at the club, as they look to make up for lost time and get their next appointment right. Meanwhile, Heckingbottom, himself, is still looking for his next job after leaving Sheffield United earlier in the campaign, making this a good match.