Birmingham City have appointed Aitor Karanka as the club’s new manager, replacing Pep Clotet who departed earlier this month. The 46-year-old Spaniard has signed a three-year contract at St Andrew’s.

Karanka has previously managed fellow Championship sides Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough, leading the latter to the Premier League, but had been out of work since departing Forest 18 months ago.

Birmingham did not win a single league game from mid-February onwards, leading Clotet to depart at the start of July following a 3-1 defeat by Swansea City.

Coaches Steve Spooner and Craig Gardner took caretaker charge of the team, earning only one point from the remaining four games and narrowly staying up on the final day of the season.

More to follow...