Birmingham City have refused to accept Alex McLeish's resignation 辭職申請 as manager and are seeking financial compensation 經(jīng)濟賠償.

McLeish apparently resigned via email and has been linked with the empty managerial post 教練職位at Birmingham City's bitter local rivals 當(dāng)?shù)氐乃缹︻^ Aston Villa.

McLeish joined Birmingham City in 2007 and still has over two years remaining on his contract with them. They won the Carling Cup in February but went on to be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2010-11 campaign 賽季.

The club's board 董事會 had stated that McLeish's job was "safe" in the aftermath of 不好的后果 their drop into the Championship but the Scot 蘇格蘭人 has now decided to leave of his own accord 自愿的。

"Birmingham City Football Club can confirm that Alex McLeish has resigned as manager," said a statement on Birmingham City's club website.

The club's acting chairman Peter Pannu has described McLeish's resignation, as "irresponsible". Talking to a national newspaper he said:

"He is still our contracted staff 有合約的職員 and Birmingham City FC does not grant 準(zhǔn)許 him any right to speak to any outsiders until the matter is resolved 直到這件事情得到解決."

If there is any truth to the suggestions that Aston Villa are looking at McLeish to fill their vacancy, it will be a difficult sell 高難度的推銷 to the Villa fans. The two clubs have a long history of rivalry and the idea of a manager moving directly from one club to the other may be more than the supporters are prepared to accept.

Fan power has already seemingly had an influence on Aston Villa's choice of manager. Former England manager Steve McClaren was believed to be a favourite for the job but a concern about a backlash 強烈抵制 from the fans meant that Villa have continued to look elsewhere.