Birmingham's big decision

Trevor Francis was in his sixth season at Birmingham

BBC Sport Online looks at the background to the departure of Trevor Francis from St Andrews.

Birmingham's Worthington Cup humiliation against Manchester City on Wednesday was the final straw for the impatient Blues board.

Trevor Francis would have been out of contract at the end of the season, but found himself leaving a little earlier than expected.

Only last week, Francis met with club chairman David Gold to discuss his future after the board issued a statement saying they were unhappy with the team's performances.

We have to pick ourselves up and one or two players are on their way back from injury which will be a lift

Trevor Francis after the 6-0 defeat by Man City

The talks were described by Gold as "positive and productive" but the Worthington Cup humiliation hardly inspired confidence.

With no mention of a new deal for Francis, it always seemed likely that his sixth season in charge at St Andrews would be his last.

Only promotion to the Premiership would have seen him stay in charge next season but the board were fast running out of patience.

Francis insisted he had no intention of quitting and maintained the club was in good shape despite their position in the bottom half of the First Division.

Real smack

"We have to pick ourselves up and one or two players are on their way back from injury which will be a lift," he said after the drubbing at Maine Road.

"The biggest thing is confidence, which has taken a real smack - but you have to remember we played against a very good side."

However, it will not be easy for Birmingham to find a manager better equipped to achieve promotion.

Francis took City to the Worthington Cup final

The club believes it is a Premiership outfit operating in the Nationwide League, but the facts suggest otherwise.

The Blues have never won the First Division or FA Cup and 15 years and seven managers have gone since they last played in the top-flight.

Francis has spent more than £20m on players during his time in charge, but that is not such a huge amount when spread over six seasons.

He has reached the play-offs the last three seasons and took the Blues to the Worthington Cup final last term.

The question facing the board is whether someone like George Graham or Harry Redknapp might succeed where Francis has failed.