Birmingham City eye Black to fill Bruce's shoes

Nov 15 2007 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

BLUES will hold talks with Eric Black about stepping up to become manager should Steve Bruce quit for Wigan.

But Bruce is certain to want to take his trusted assistant with him to the JJB Stadium.

The pair have formed quite a bond since Bruce, despite not having worked with him before, appointed Black as Mark Bowen's replacement in the summer of 2004.

Blues will sound out Black to see if he is keen to take over the reins, like he did at Coventry City to much acclaim when Gary McAllister resigned.

Whether it would be for an interim period, with a view to getting the job permanently subject to proving his worth, could be a major debating point.

Black's work on the training ground is respected by the players and his contacts in Europe and ability to speak French and German have been priceless in helping Blues find, recruit and integrate foreigners.

Should Bruce go, after almost six years and 269 games - ironically, the Villa defeat was his 100th loss - it would certainly create upheaval at the worst possible time.

And it would throw into the spotlight just how big a say Carson Yeung would have in the appointment.

Blues were unable to give Bruce a new rolling contract because Yeung would not rubber-stamp it, apparently due to the legal complexities of being in a 'takeover period'.

At present, with Yeung's buyout in serious doubt, the mood of the Blues board is such that the Hong Kong tycoon would have no option but to agree with their choice.

Black is on a 12-month rolling contract and Wigan owner Dave Whelan is unlikely to baulk at handing him a longer deal.

When Whelan approached Paul Jewell about returning, the former Wigan manager revealed that he had been offered an 'unbelievable' contract, a 'king's ransom'.