Clark charged with engineering Birmingham’s Premier League return

Four months on from his surprising dismissal at newly promoted Huddersfield Town, Lee Clark is back in Football after being appointed the new Birmingham City manager.

The Blues missed out on their Premier League return, suffering Championship play-off semi-final heartache to Blackpool and Clark has been installed at St Andrew’s with the task of winning promotion at the earliest available opportunity.

The former Newcastle midfielder replaces Chris Hughton in charge of the Blues after Hughton agreed to join Premier League side Norwich City.

Despite lingering fears about finances, with Birmingham still placed under a transfer embargo, Clark is fully aware of what is expected of him and the size of the task that awaits.

“There are restrictions with the embargo but there's nothing been hidden from me.” Clark told BBC West Midlands.

Birmingham’s failure to reclaim their Premier League status at the first attempt, has resulted in the departure of several key members of the squad. Ben Foster is expected to remain at neighbours West Bromwich Albion for next season and Jordan Mutch completed his move to fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City last week.

Even so, Clark believes that the calibre of player that remains at St Andrew’s leaves the Blues with every chance of returning to the top flight.

Clark continued: “After dialogue with Peter Pannu (acting chairman) and the board, I know where I'm going, and I feel very positive. I know the market but I know the ones I've already got are a fantastic group of players.”

The former Terriers boss has Reiterated Pannu’s statement, that it would take “Crazy bids” for Birmingham to lose their two most prized assets, Young Player of the Year Nathan Redmond and England’s third choice Goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Clark masterminded the longest unbeaten run in Football League history, guiding Huddersfield to 43 successive games without defeat, but with the League One play-off winners still fourth in the table, Clark was relieved of his duties at the Galpharm Stadium.

On his return to football management, Clark, who began his coaching career at his hometown club Newcastle, is looking to continue the momentum that the Blues built from last season under former boss Hughton.

He added: “I've got experience combined with a good crop of youngsters. And I'm looking to create the same atmosphere Chris Hughton had about the place. I'm hoping that we can carry on that momentum from last season and just get that little bit of luck you need to get over the line.”

Clark will reacquaint himself with his former employers fairly early into the new season with Huddersfield due to visit St Andrew’s on October 6.