Lee Bowyer was today sacked as Birmingham manager less than a month before the start of the new season.
The former Leeds and Newcastle midfielder – who also played for Blues from 2009-11 – was informed on Saturday that the club would be making a change.
Bowyer held talks with the club hierarchy after training and was told that Blues – whose owners are looking to sell the club – would be moving in a different direction.
The call to remove Bowyer adds to the uncertainty around the club during the summer.
Laurence Bassini was in discussions to complete a takeover but the proposed deadline of July 1 has now passed without a change of ownership.
When Bowyer took charge towards the end of the 2020-21 campaign, Birmingham looked nailed on for relegation to League One – but he kept them up with something to spare.
Despite being given contract and transfer assurances that were not delivered, Bowyer steered Blues to safety again the following campaign.
Since Mark Kennedy left to take charge at Lincoln, Bowyer has been working without an assistant and the club have yet to make a signing, with only 12 senior players currently on the books.
Birmingham also relied significantly on loan players Lyle Taylor, Teden Mengi, Onel Hernandez and Matija Sarkic last term, with all now back at their parent clubs.
The Championship club were expected to release a statement confirming the news later on Saturday.