Cotterill can splash cash

rules. Everything we we follow the rules.

“We are not going to risk any interest of this club under any circumstances. We follow the rules.”

Cotterill became the fourth manager in less than a year to take charge of the club under Trillion Trophy after the sacking of Harry Redknapp just 10 games into the season – despite his having kept the Blues in the division last season.

Redknapp told an afterdinner audience last week that a fully-fit Birmingham squad would finish above Villa.

Ren said: “Harry was saying the other day that five of our good players are not fit at the moment and not playing. That do here, is one thing I couldn’t agree more with. When all of our players are fit and back in the squad we will finish above Villa this season.”

Cotterill took over officially yesterday, two days after watching his new side thrashed 6-1 at Hull to stay in the Championship relegation zone.

“When you don’t have a very good start and you’re down the bottom of the Championship it is hard to get out of it because you’ve got to make winning a habit again,” said Cotterill.

“It looks like they didn’t have that in the tank at the beginning of the season – or in the tank for the majority of last season.

“So something’s got to snap quickly into shape for us to go on a good run. For this club the Premier League is everything. It is a Premier League club. The people who work here are Premier League.

“We have Premier League supporters and a Premier League fan base. And we have to make sure we do our best to get back up there.

“But that is a long-term plan. The short-term plan is to get away from a relegation zone.

“My priority is to get on the training ground with the players. That is where I want to be.”

Birmingham resume their Championship campaign after the international break with a home game against league leaders Cardiff on October 13.