MONK’S VOW

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GARRY MONK insists he doesn’t need “armbands” at sinking Birmingham... because he kept Swansea up when thrown in at the managerial deep end.

Monk was unveiled last night at St Andrew’s as the fifth Blues manager in 15 months under Trillion Trophy Asia.

The Far East-owned club axed Steve Cotterill on Saturday after a fifth successive defeat at Nottingham Forest. It leaves 22nd-placed Blues just two points off the bottom with 11 games left ahead of the visit of Monk’s old club Middlesbrough.

Monk, who has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal, said: “I have been in the deep end quite a few times so I don’t need armbands now. It will never be harder than when I first went into management when one day you are a player and the next day you are a manager in the Premier League (at Swansea).

“It doesn’t come more difficult than that, thrown in at the deep end with 13 games to go. There are parallels with that now.”

Birmingham Middlesbrough

Ex-swansea and Leeds boss Monk was shown the door by Boro in December despite beating Sheffield Wednesday in his last game. He now faces his successor Tony Pulis in his first game at the Birmingham helm.

Monk, who turns 39 today, said: “The sacking was a surprise, especially given the internal talks we were having. I didn’t see it coming.

“But all I care about now is that the players are going to give everything and they will get support from the fans – that will be the best present.”

Monk suggested he is willing to stay at St Andrew’s even if they go down but he is hopeful of beating the drop after taking training for the first time yesterday.

“It is a big challenge – but those are the type of challenges I like to get my teeth into,” he said. “With the quality in this squad they should not be in the position they are.

“But you have to have other qualities with it too. We have to crawl off the pitch if we have to.

“And I can see in this group’s eyes that they definitely have that in them.”