McLeish quits Blues, linked with Villa

Written by Administrator on 13 June 2011.

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Birmingham have confirmed manager Alex McLeish has resigned in an email to acting chairman Peter Pannu.

Blues were relegated on the final day of the 2010-11 season, despite enjoying success when winning the League Cup in February.

The Scot joined the club in 2007, and stayed on after relegation at the end of the 2007-8 season to lead the club back to the Premier League and a ninth-placed position in 2009-10.

With owner Carson Yeung said to be in some element of financial problems, and players like Roger Johnson and Scott Dann expected to be sold, McLeish has chosen to take his leave of St Andrews.

He has now jumped to the front of the betting for the vacant position at Aston Villa who are still managerless after the departure of Gerard Houllier and their failure to lure Roberto Martinez to Villa Park.

Birmingham City have declined to make any further comment.