Zola resigns as Birmingham City coach after four months with just two wins in 24 games

Birmingham City manager, Gianfranco Zola, has quit the club following Monday's home defeat by fellow strugglers, Burton Albion, in the Championship.
Just three points above the relegation places with three games remaining, the club is 20th in the Championship table after their 2-0 loss to Burton.

Zola was in charge of Birmingham City for just four months, and only won 2 games out of 24.

"I sacked myself. I decided to give in my resignation," he said.

"I am sorry because I came to Birmingham with huge expectations. Unfortunately, the results have not been good and I take full responsibility.

"It is not that I like quitting, but Birmingham deserves better. If I feel I cannot help the players, why stay? If I cannot help the team, it is better I leave and let someone else do that.

"I feel very bad and very sorry. We worked with a lot of meaning, but unfortunately it didn't produce the results. It is all very disappointing."

When the club’s formal manager, Gary Rowett, was sacked in December, Blues were seventh and only out of the play-off places only on goal difference.

Panos Pavlakis, the club director, explained their decision to sack Rowett, now in charge at Derby County, by saying that Zola's "pedigree" matched their ambition to "move in a new direction".

That decision to change the manager puzzled many supporters - and results on the pitch have done nothing to win them over.