Scotland Striker Garry O’Connor is the Fall Guy in Drugs Documentary Claims
by Jon WestFiled under: Birmingham, Barnsley, Championship, Premier League, Football, Scotland
The view of football's busiest Twitterati was that Channel 4's Dispatches programme had promised much but delivered little in its attempts to lift the lid of the drug culture it claimed was rife throughout the game.
It claimed dozens of positive tests for cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis have been hushed up and it was not just Rio Ferdinand who failed to turn up for a test as hundreds had been missed over a three-year period.
Scotland international Garry O'Connor was at the centre of the revelations and was 'outed' as the player who tested positive for cocain while at Birmingham in October 2009 and was banned by the Football Association for two months.
The twist to that particular tale was that the player was subsequently transferred to Barnsley without informing the Championship club of the blemish on his record, and the Tykes declared they would never have employed him if they had known.
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Indeed, that particular story mirrored an entertaining rumour that circulated a couple of seasons ago that a very famous former footballer in his first managerial post was extremely annoyed to have 'discovered' a fellow Premier League club had solfd him a player with an alleged drug habit and made his feelings known in no uncertain terms when his team played them. The manager, player and the selling club are no longer in the Premier League now.
O'Connor can be currently found at Hibernian, the club where he started his career as a teenager so promising he was playing for his country at just 18, but the feeling among the tweeting players was that he wasn't a big enough name to justify the hype and that the documentary makers were trying to highlight a problem that just wasn't there.
They all seemed to know a few fellow pro's who might have indulged in some recreational drug use, and journeyman forward Lee Thorpe was also named, but overall it was a big fuss about nothing and their cyber attention was soon caught by the US Open tennis final.
In any case, O'Connor's drug past was not entirely unknown as in May he was arrested in Scotland on suspicion of possessing Class A narcotics and there had not long before been an incident at a time when he was without a club and training with Celtic when his Ferrari Spyder F1 430 was found abandoned after crashing into a bridge.
An over-paid young man with insufficient brain cells? Perhaps, but even the most cursory investigation into the player's own background would have discovered that drug abuse had always been present in the part of the world where he was raised. You don't need to have read Trainspotting to know that Edinburgh has a drugs problem.
In 2006 he dropped out of the Scotland squad just before a European qualifier against Ukraine and later explained it was because his elder sister Kerry, a recovering drug addict, had tried to commit suicide.
And O'Connor had already tried to change his lifestyle, or at least clainmed he had, by selling his car collection, which included a Hummer, and spending £20,000 on removing tattoos from his neck.
"I had too much too young and there wasn't anybody around to help me deal with problems like there is now," he said in the year of his ban. "I was thrown into the deep end and left to fend for myself. The money turns your head when you are a youngster and I think it changes everybody.
"I'm proud that I've learnt my lesson and I'm certainly not flash any more. There will be no more Ferraris - it's just a Range Rover for me. The tattoos went because they sent out the wrong message."
So Garry O'Connor served a secret drugs ban and Barnsley ended up being (slightly) burned. But that doesn't appear to be the whole story as far as this individual is concerned. Just the one that everyone will remember thanks to a documentary that failed to impress on the whole.
Tony Pulis Proves Patience is a Virtue After Stoke’s Deadline Day Business
by John PercyFiled under: Birmingham, Stoke City, Tottenham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Tony Pulis has been a notoriously late operator in the transfer market ever since Stoke's promotion to the Premier League but this particular window has emphatically proven that patience is the key.
Just months after leading Stoke to the FA Cup Final and subsequently the Europa League, Pulis stands on the verge of taking the club up another level with a stunning spending spree on the final day.
For the last three weeks, it was believed Spurs striker Peter Crouch was out of reach. Why would he move to Stoke? Why would he leave Spurs? He's on too much money at Spurs. What about his career with England?
Us cynical hacks had heard it all and, admittedly, most of those comments came from the Crouch camp. But as usual, the lure of hard cash - and possibly the threat of Crouch's exclusion from Spurs's 25-man squad - forced their hand and the England international completed an amazing club record £10 million move to the Britannia Stadium, together with Spurs team-mate Wilson Palacios.
It required admirable brinkmanship from Pulis, who used to slog up and down the motorways scouring the lower league's most remote outposts with Harry Redknapp while at Bournemouth in the late 1980s.
Pulis was clear all along that he wanted Crouch and Palacios as a double deal, and not one or the other. Patience was the watchword for the Stoke manager and he has been rewarded - and then some.
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The arrival of Crouch has probably forced Stoke into adjusting their rigid wage structure but Pulis, and chairman Peter Coates, clearly believed it was a risk worth taking.
Now the prospect of the Potters competing for a place in the Premier League's top eight is very real and another year of progression under Pulis looks a certainty. You never know, they could even win the Europa League.
It wasn't just about Crouch's surprise arrival, though. The signing of Palacios cannot be understated. A tigerish midfielder who can take the ball from the defence has been sadly lacking during their time in the top flight and at £8 million he represents something of a snip.
Despite the undoubted qualities of Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap and Dean Whitehead, there has been a nagging feeling among pundits and supporters that Stoke have been getting away with it, with regard to their midfielders.
Now Palacios will add some much needed power and legs to their engine room, providing cover to the defence and pivotal wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant.
Cameron Jerome has also been a long-term target for Pulis and after such a lengthy pursuit he will be determined to get the best out of the former Birmingham striker.
A lack of goals has always been levelled at him but he has pace to burn and his arrival will serve to give Kenwyne Jones a timely kick up the backside.
Roger Johnson An Ideal Fit for Wolves But When Will Birmingham Sales End?
by Ian EdwardsFiled under: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Championship, Premier League, Football
Roger Johnson is exactly what Wolves have been crying out for since their return to the Premier League.
The proposed £7m deal to take him from St Andrew's to Molineux is great news for Mick McCarthy and another kick in the teeth for Chris Hughton.
Wolves will be getting a central defender who is one of the most committed and dependable at top flight level.
If the deal goes through, the £7m, which will equal the club record signing of Steven Fletcher from Burnley almost a year ago, will prove money well spent on a 28-year-old with England ambitions and a burning desire to win.
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He will give McCarthy something that Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra and the now departed Michael Mancienne have been unable to supply, a genuine leader at the heart of their defence.
Johnson also comes with reliable stamped right through him given the fact that he was ever-present in Birmingham's two seasons in the Premier League.
Birmingham were thought to be holding out for a £10m fee for the former Cardiff City man, but it appears they have agreed to accept Wolves' £7m offer.
It is a sign of the changing ambitions at the two rival West Midlands clubs. Wolves are looking to cement their status in the Premier League by making quality additions to their squad, following on the heels of their £5m deal for Jamie O'Hara from Spurs.
Contrast that with the revolving exit door at their Championship neighbours which appears to be gathering speed on a daily basis.
Cameron Jerome and Scott Dann are both just waiting for someone to offer the right kind of cash and they will be catapulted out of the club.
Barry Ferguson, the leader of the side for the last two seasons, is on his way to Blackpool, which is a clear indication of how he can see which way the wind is blowing with under-pressure owner Carson Yeung.
Birmingham are believed to be in debt to the tune of almost £30m and Yeung has decided it is clearly time to sell the family silver.
The loss of Johnson, to add to that list of players of Premier League quality would go a long way to explaining just why Alex McLeish risked the vitriol of the entire football fraternity in the Second City to make the short crossing to Villa Park.
Birmingham City appear to be a club in meltdown, selling off their top stars and Hughton appears under orders to replace them with every bargain basement signing and Bosman he can get his hands on.
It is unlikely to get any brighter at St Andrew's for some time to come.
Tony Pulis Set To Succeed in His Relentless Pursuit of Carlton Cole
by John PercyFiled under: Birmingham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Stoke City, West Ham, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Tony Pulis has climbed Kilimanjaro and run countless marathons and the Stoke manager displays similar levels of endurance with his targets in the transfer market.
Just like the Mounties, Pulis invariably gets his man and his relentless pursuit of Carlton Cole is set to finally pay off after years of valiant attempts.
Cole has been on Stoke's radar ever since their promotion to the Premier League and is expected to jump ship following West Ham's relegation to join the Potters this week for a deal that could eventually see them pay £6 million.
Subject to a stringent medical, Stoke will pay an initial £4.5 million, with a further £1.5 million on appearances, and Cole is expected to fly out and join Pulis and his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Austria in the next few days.
The England striker will sign a four-year deal and the prospect of a forward line including Cole, record signing Kenwyne Jones, the criminally under-rated Jon Walters and the enigma that is Ricardo Fuller will have Pulis licking his lips.
Cole's muscular, direct approach is just what Pulis wants from his strikers and his latest recruit will have the proven Premier League experience he has been targeting.
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The deal also represents admirable patience from Stoke, who had been quoted figures as high as £9 million earlier in the summer when their first tentative approaches were made.
The 27-year-old will be part of Stoke's Europa League campaign that starts later this month and Thomas Sorensen, who played with Cole for a season at former club Aston Villa, believes his signing will be a shrewd piece of business.
He said: "He is a much improved player. He was fairly young when I played with him at Villa. He was a little bit indisciplined and needed a lot of work. But he has definitely improved.
"The role he has had at West Ham has given him a lot of responsibility and you can see he has grown.
"He has been involved with the England team and, whenever we have played him, he has been a handful with his physical presence.
"He has also capped every season with quite a few goals. If he came to Stoke, I think he would be a great signing for us."
Pulis will step up his bid to land Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson and Birmingham defender Scott Dann this week.
Shay Given to Aston Villa is a Move that Suits All Parties
by John PercyFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Bolton, Manchester City, Newcastle, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Alex McLeish's hunt for a new goalkeeper has been a top priority ever since completing his acrimonious move across the Second City from Birmingham to deadly rivals Aston Villa.
And the Daily Mail reports that McLeish has moved swiftly to solve his No. 1 crisis by tabling a bid for Manchester City's unsettled Shay Given.
The story says Villa have settled on the Republic of Ireland international and are ready to push through a £5 million deal this week.
Given, 35, is so desperate to quit Eastlands that he is prepared to take a substantial cut on his whopping £90,000 a week wages to revive his career after a wasted campaign last season.
McLeish has been desperate for a new keeper after the departure of Brad Friedel, who quit earlier this month to join Premier League rivals Tottenham.
Birmingham's Ben Foster and Bolton's Ali Al-Habsi have also been on the radar but Villa chairman Randy Lerner has given McLeish the green light to pursue Given, who is likely to rake in around £65,000 a week.
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The former Newcastle star failed to make a single league appearance under Roberto Mancini last season after losing his place to Joe Hart but McLeish is ready to revive his career.
It's a no-brainer for the new Villa manager. He will be signing a proven Premier League goalkeeper and one that will be aching to prove a point to his former employers.
McLeish is also stepping up his £9 million bid for Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia, as he prepares to lose Stewart Downing to Liverpool, according to the same report.
N'Zogbia will be allowed to leave the DW Stadium for around £9 million and McLeish is trying to make it second time lucky.
He had agreed a fee with Wigan for the France international last season at former club Birmingham but the deal collapsed after a failure to agree personal terms.
But now McLeish has increased financial muscle at Villa and will press ahead with a deal to sign the winger as a replacement for Ashley Young, to provide service for club record signing Darren Bent.
Is Craig Gardner Guilty of Bluenose Betrayal or is he a Victim of Finance?
by John PercyFiled under: Birmingham, Sunderland, Championship, Premier League, Football
A supposed Bluenose jumping ship, committing betrayal on a grand scale following his beloved Birmingham's relegation to the wilderness of the Championship?
Or a victim of harsh financial circumstance, becoming the first casualty of cost-cutting as his club attempt to reduce a whopping wage bill?
These are the two questions that Birmingham supporters will be asking themselves following the departure of self-confessed fan Craig Gardner to Sunderland.
The timing could not be worse for him as he is set to be the first player to be sold for a sum, with a £6 million move to Sunderland expected to be confirmed shortly.
Gardner could not wait to set the record straight when his move across the Second City from Aston Villa to Birmingham 18 months ago was confirmed.
How he was a Birmingham nut, how he used to watch the club from the St. Andrew's terraces. There were even rumours that he broke down in tears as the ink dried on his Birmingham contract, overcome by the sheer emotion of such a move.
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All the rhetoric suggested this was a homecoming for the midfielder and he was expected to become the figurehead for the next five years and beyond.
When his goal clinched a place in the Carling Cup Final against West Ham, he etched his name into Birmingham folklore and then played a major part in securing their first silverware in nearly 50 years against Arsenal.
But relegation claims many victims, not just off the field, and Sunderland have moved swiftly to sign a player who scored seven more goals last season than Jordan Henderson, who moved for £10 million more.
Gardner has been accused of fleeing a sinking ship and held up as another prime example of how loyalty has died in this era of cash and controversy.
He could have stayed to help Chris Hughton mount a Championship promotion challenge and then enhanced his hero status even further.
But what if Gardner has been pushed? What if he had been painted a bleak financial picture by Birmingham's owners, a picture that illustrated how his wages were crippling the club?
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Gardner has been told he was helping his club by moving on and saving vast wads of cash in the process.
Pursuit of Scott Dann Shows Tony Pulis Has Taken Stoke to a Higher Level
by John PercyFiled under: Arsenal, Birmingham, Liverpool, Stoke City, Europa League (UEFA), Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Tony Pulis knows he has to raise the bar yet again at Stoke after securing European football - and he returns from holiday determined to kick off his summer recruitment drive in earnest.
Pulis is already picking away at the carcasses of last season's three relegated Premier League clubs and will step up his raid on Birmingham this week for Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome.
Stoke have offered an £8 million down payment loaded with substantial incentives for the pair, which could take the deal well above £12 million.
Further payments will be triggered depending on how far Stoke progress in the Europa League and if Dann or Jerome ever earn international recognition, among other factors. Rumours that a major payment will be made if Jerome scores a goal are believed to be wide of the mark.
But the joint bid demonstrates Stoke's determination to bring in proven Premier League experience as they attempt to make another forward step in their impressive progress over the last three years.
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The proposal is believed to have been turned down by Birmingham, but Stoke will not give up and are keen to seal the double deal this week.
Stoke's only fly in the ointment surrounds highly-rated centre-half Dann, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. The price tag Birmingham will demand for the former Coventry defender is also believed to be a major stumbling block.
Dann's potential arrival has unsurprisingly raised fears from supporters that either Ryan Shawcross or Robert Huth will be sold. Huth is probably a more saleable asset after sweeping the board at the Player of the Year awards in May but Stoke are firmly denying that anybody is for sale.
Unfortunately, it doesn't always work like that. Squad strengthening is a risky business where egos are concerned and the more you succeed, the more likely you are to upset the applecart.
Dann isn't going to come to the Britannia Stadium just to play Europa League games or rare Carling Cup outings. It raises the genuine possibility that Pulis could intend to deploy him at left-back.
But if Dann is recruited as a centre-half, and charged with the task of displacing either Shawcross or Huth, he could conceivably get more regular first-team football at the Emirates.
Stoke will push ahead with the move this week and are desperate to recruit at least five new players, with the first Europa League game less than a month away.
How Alex McLeish’s Appointment is Still Dividing Aston Villa Supporters
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Even by the time Alex McLeish carried out his first media duties as manager on Monday, signs still remain that the vitriol is failing to subside among Aston Villa supporters over his appointment.
The Scot, named as Gerard Houllier's replacement at Villa Park on Friday just six days after quitting as manager of bitter rivals Birmingham, is dividing fans of the Midlands club.
Fresh graffiti was scrawled on property at Villa's Bodymoor Heath headquarters, where McLeish's unveiling press conference was held, while extra security was employed around the entrance to the training ground.
And, while aware of the icy reception his arrival has prompted from some sections of the Villa faithful, McLeish insists his time managing Rangers will ensure he is tough enough to handle the boo boys.
He said: "I've got to have thick skin. I managed Rangers. I got it in the neck from those fans up there at times and I came through that and I'll come through this.
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"That experience doesn't make me absolutely totally used to it. No one can ever get used to it. But I am thick-skinned, I've had experience of it and that should stand me in good stead.
"I won't say it won't ever happen again but I've got to show the fans I can turn it around and hopefully the fans chanting against me coming here, will be chanting my name."
Charlie Adam an Aston Villa Target as Alex McLeish Prepares to Spend
by John PercyFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackpool, Liverpool, Championship, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Alex McLeish was shopping in the bargain basement at Birmingham City before his controversial move across the second city divide to take charge at Aston Villa.
But he will now be in the unusual position of having substantial transfer funds at his disposal and is already targeting a raft of quality recruitments.
Charlie Adam is the latest name to be linked with a move to Villa Park, with the Sun reporting that McLeish is preparing a £9 million bid for the Blackpool playmaker.
The paper suggests that McLeish is ready to take on a string of bigger Premier League rivals, including Liverpool and Spurs, to fight for the Scotland international's signature.
Adam is well known to McLeish. He made his debut under him at previous club Rangers and also won his first international cap when McLeish was in charge.
Villa, of course, have had previous interest in Adam and Gerard Houllier's advances were enough to infuriate Ian Holloway in January.
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At least two bids were made by Villa in the New Year but it will take more than double the £4 million they last offered to prise him out of Blackpool, despite the Tangerines's relegation to the Championship.
The report also says McLeish will be returning to St. Andrew's to sign goalkeeper Ben Foster, who will cost around £10 million of the £40 million that Randy Lerner is understood to have put aside for the new manager.
The Daily Mirror goes even further, reporting that Birmingham defender Scott Dann will be another target together with Foster.
Dann is also being eyed by Liverpool and Stoke but both clubs have been scared off by an "astronomical" price tag, which is believed to be anywhere between £12 and £15 million.
McLeish will undoubtedly hold an advantage after signing Dann - but can you imagine Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu wanting to do any business with McLeish after the bitterness and bile of last week?
Why Alex McLeish is the Right Man for Aston Villa – Despite the Fans’ Protests
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Alex McLeish is public enemy No.1 as far as some Aston Villa fans are concerned, but owner Randy Lerner is correct to press on with what is a brave, but potentially inspired managerial appointment.
Villa aim to confirm McLeish as Gerard Houllier's replacement by the close of play on Thursday in spite of angry protests from supporters at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
While nearly 1,000 fans besieged their home stadium to vent their anger at the prospect of McLeish as their new manager after he controversially quit bitter rivals Birmingham via email on Sunday, Lerner was in London holding what have been described by club sources as positive talks with the Scot.
The former Rangers and Scotland manager cut his holiday short to jet in for talks and it now appears highly unlikely his arrival will be delayed by his former employers.
Having sought further legal advice, plans to report Villa to the Premier League for "tapping up" McLeish - an allegation made in a strongly-worded statement released on Tuesday night - have been shelved by Birmingham with the club instead concentrating their efforts on their defence against claims of constructive dismissal from the Scot.
The Gloves are Off in Birmingham as Alex McLeish Plans Talks with Aston Villa
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Birmingham and Aston Villa's dispute over Alex McLeish is escalating fast with City now intending to lodge a formal complaint after openly accusing their bitter rivals of a "tap-up".
McLeish, who informed the St Andrew's club of his decision to quit by email on Sunday, is poised to hold formal discussions with Blues' big rivals on Wednesday with Villa eager to rubberstamp his appointment as Gerard Houllier's successor by the end of the week.
The former Scotland manager is pursuing a case for constructive dismissal against his former employers, with League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan revealing the reasons why when he offered a staunch defence of McLeish's reputation on Tuesday evening.
He said McLeish resigned over "serious issues" which included not being consulted over player transfers and "aggressive" communications.
Bevan said: "We are very disappointed the club didn't follow principles of employment law. Mr Pannu put into the public domain confidential information contained in Alex's contract, which is a breach of confidence.
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"It's disappointing from Alex's perspective after criticism over his resignation by email. One of the key issues for him when he resigned was Mr Pannu sacked Alex's chief scout (Paul Montgomery). He learned that he had been dismissed when he was copied into an email from Mr Peter Pannu to one of the club's officials."
When asked what the confidential information was, he replied: "It was to do with player transfers. "It was also to do with aggressive and serious undermining communications and, from Alex's perspective, he felt he had to leave."
Villa soon followed on by releasing a statement of their own, which read: "The club understands that Alex McLeish is a free agent. We therefore intend to interview him imminently in order to make a decision regarding his candidacy to become Villa manager."
Yet, having seemingly softened their stance to allow McLeish to "go with their blessing" if their financial demands were met, Blues' position shifted again late on Tuesday night in response to Bevan's hard-hitting comments and Villa's statement.
"Birmingham City Football Club finds Aston Villa's announcement to proceed with an interview with Alex McLeish a contempt of Premier League and FA rules.
"The club feel this will taint football and give the game and the footballing authorities a bad name if this is allowed to materialise. The club will do what is within its powers to prevent this and will lodge a formal complaint to the authorities on Wednesday as there is now not the slightest doubt remaining about this tap-up attempt.
Aston Villa Fans Unimpressed as Pursuit of Alex McLeish Heads to Court
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Ever since his arrival in England in 2006, Randy Lerner's love affair with the Aston Villa faithful has been virtually untainted, yet his move for Alex McLeish threatens to plunge that relationship into jeopardy.
A matter of days after the Villans were snubbed by Roberto Martinez, the Scot, who quit as manager of bitter rivals Birmingham via email on Sunday, has emerged as their new No. 1 target.
It is a highly controversial move - for more than one reason. Somewhat understandably, Villa supporters are in uproar that the board deem a manager who suffered two relegations with their sworn enemy good enough to manage their beloved club.
Over 10,000 people have signed up to a Facebook page entitled 'Aston Villa Supporters - We don't want Alex McLeish' and a protest has been planned at Villa Park for 5pm on Tuesday.
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But that is not the only battle Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner are locked in. Villa and Birmingham are at loggerheads, with City refusing to accept McLeish's resignation and insistent the Scot cannot open talks.
They are prepared to put the Scot on 'gardening leave' and use injunctions to deny Lerner talking to McLeish until compensation - they want over £5 million - is agreed.
Villa, however, have infuriated Blues by insisting they are entitled to open discussions with McLeish because the 52-year-old resigned, in their opinion making him a free agent.
McLeish is pursuing a case for constructive dismissal, claiming interference from the Blues board and, if he wins, it will enable him to walk away for free.
The Scot only signed a new three-year deal with Blues in September, though, and the club are determined his £5.4 million release fee will be met.
That figure will fall to £3 million on July 1, however, when the ex-Scotland manager reaches the end of the first year of that deal.
Acting Blues chairman Peter Pannu said: "I will be getting an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him. Either Villa pick up his tab or I will be reporting them to the Premier League.
"Aston Villa's confirmation that they are free now to speak to him confirms all of my suspicions and with a bit more evidence I will be reporting this.
"I will fight all the way. The rules are there for a reason. I don't want Alex McLeish back. If he is going to go I want the money. This is like a conspiracy to defraud. This is borderline criminal. That's how strong I will put it."
Aston Villa Fans Unimpressed as Pursuit of Alex McLeish Heads to Court
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Ever since his arrival in England in 2006, Randy Lerner's love affair with the Aston Villa faithful has been virtually untainted, yet his move for Alex McLeish threatens to plunge that relationship into jeopardy.
A matter of days after the Villans were snubbed by Roberto Martinez, the Scot, who quit as manager of bitter rivals Birmingham via email on Sunday, has emerged as their new No. 1 target.
It is a highly controversial move - for more than one reason. Somewhat understandably, Villa supporters are in uproar that the board deem a manager who suffered two relegations with their sworn enemy good enough to manage their beloved club.
Over 10,000 people have signed up to a Facebook page entitled 'Aston Villa Supporters - We don't want Alex McLeish' and a protest has been planned at Villa Park for 5pm on Tuesday.
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But that is not the only battle Lerner and chief executive Paul Faulkner are locked in. Villa and Birmingham are at loggerheads, with City refusing to accept McLeish's resignation and insistent the Scot cannot open talks.
They are prepared to put the Scot on 'gardening leave' and use injunctions to deny Lerner talking to McLeish until compensation - they want over £5 million - is agreed.
Villa, however, have infuriated Blues by insisting they are entitled to open discussions with McLeish because the 52-year-old resigned, in their opinion making him a free agent.
McLeish is pursuing a case for constructive dismissal, claiming interference from the Blues board and, if he wins, it will enable him to walk away for free.
The Scot only signed a new three-year deal with Blues in September, though, and the club are determined his £5.4 million release fee will be met.
That figure will fall to £3 million on July 1, however, when the ex-Scotland manager reaches the end of the first year of that deal.
Acting Blues chairman Peter Pannu said: "I will be getting an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him. Either Villa pick up his tab or I will be reporting them to the Premier League.
"Aston Villa's confirmation that they are free now to speak to him confirms all of my suspicions and with a bit more evidence I will be reporting this.
"I will fight all the way. The rules are there for a reason. I don't want Alex McLeish back. If he is going to go I want the money. This is like a conspiracy to defraud. This is borderline criminal. That's how strong I will put it."
Aston Villa Link Puts Alex McLeish in the Firing Line After Birmingham Exit
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Having forged a reputation as one of the most committed and courteous managers around, Alex McLeish's shock decison to quit Birmingham to potentially pave the way for a move to bitter rivals Aston Villa has sent shockwaves through the second city.
The Scot, who led City to the Carling Cup last season before their relegation to the Championship on the final day, informed the St Andrew's club by email on Sunday and is now the odds-on favourite to make a controversial switch to Villa.
McLeish found himself in the rare position of still having the backing of supporters despite demotion from the Premier League, but should he follow in the footsteps of Ron Saunders - who crossed the divide, albeit in the opposite direction, in 1982 the season after leading Villa to the Division One title - he can expect to be transformed into a figure of hate overnight.
Somewhat understandably, it has led to claims of betrayal from the Blues board, who had declared his job safe only last month and are now considering legal action against the former Rangers and Scotland manager.
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Acting chairman Peter Pannu, a former Hong Kong barrister, told the Daily Mirror: "We have just brought in three players of his choice. And whilst in Amsterdam, having secured him the fourth one, an email on Sunday when I am on business speaks volumes.
"We spent £40 million, supported him all the way and what we get is a relegation and a snub when Carson gave him unwavering support and did not sack him.
"We declared his job secure and professed trust and confidence in him, so much so we have just negotiated four of his new first choice players. I won't blame any outside clubs yet until I find out more.
"He is still our contracted staff and Birmingham City Football Club does not grant him any right to speak to any outsiders until the matter is resolved. I will be meeting my legal team on Monday.
"I will deal with this and rest assured I will leave no stones unturned. It's about time some discipline is instilled into this game and I am unfortunately not a person who gets pushed about."
Should he do the unthinkable and fill the Villa void which remains following Roberto Martinez's rejection in favour of remaining at Wigan last week, McLeish would be doing the equivalent of leaving Rangers for Celtic - a move he simply would have never contemplated making.
It is possible the Scot has underestimated the strength of feeling in the Second City, where the intensity of the rivalry between the clubs is as strong as any south of the border.
Alex McLeish May Head to Aston Villa After Shock Exit From Birmingham
by Graham ChaseFiled under: Aston Villa, Birmingham, Championship, Premier League, Football
Alex McLeish has resigned from Birmingham and become the new favourite to take over at Aston Villa in what would be one of football's most controversial managerial changes.
A Birmingham statement has revealed that that McLeish, who is now the overwhelming bookmaker's favourite to replace Gerard Houllier at Villa Park, has quit the St Andrew's club by email.
The statement read: "Birmingham City can confirm that Alex McLeish has resigned as manager.
"Acting chairman Peter Pannu received an email resignation from McLeish earlier today (Sunday) while away on business in Amsterdam."
The timing of McLeish's departure, just days after Roberto Martinez ruled himself out of the race to become Villa manager, could be coincidental. But then again it might not be.
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McLeish, who took Birmingham to relegation last season but also won the Carling Cup, only signed striker Marlon King from Coventry on Friday, suggesting resignation was not in his thoughts 48 hours before he left.
His resignation comes just three weeks after he described Birmingham dropping into the Championship for the second time in his reign as "the worst feeling" in his career.
Birmingham and Aston Villa are two of the most bitter rivals in English football and while moving to Villa Park would make sense from a footballing point of view for McLeish, it would place the former Rangers and Scotland manager under huge pressure and focus.
Daily life would become extremely difficult for the Scot and owner Randy Lerner, who thought again about appointing Steve McClaren because of the reaction of the fans. It remains to be seen how they will react to being led by the former Birmingham manager.
McLeish took over at Birmingham in November 2007 and slipped to relegation at the end of that season.