Carsley handed Birmingham reins after Redknapp is axed

FORMER Ireland international Lee Carsley has been placed in caretaker charge of Birmingham City after Harry Redknapp was sacked with the club bottom of the English Championship.

The former West Ham and Tottenham boss was axed a few hours after the 3-1 home defeat by Preston North End – their sixth in eight games.

Birmingham now face the prospect of paying Redknapp his full salary of £1.75million after firing the 70-year-old so early in the season.

A statement read: ‘Unfortunately due to the poor start to the campaign, we are left with no choice but to terminate the contract of the manager with immediate effect.’

Redknapp kept Birmingham up after succeeding Gianfranco Zola in April and oversaw a major overhaul of the playing squad during the transfer window. But the Blues have won just once in the League and are out of the League Cup.

Carsley’s reign will most likely be a short-term fix as the 40-times capped Ireland midfielder is the club’s head of professional development and also a member of the England Under-21 coaching staff.

Elsewhere, Antonio Conte says he was never worried about being sacked when, a year ago, he watched his Chelsea side disintegrate 3-0 to a rampant Arsenal team. One year on, Chelsea take on Arsenal again as Premier League champions but on September 24 last year it seemed as though Arsene Wenger was undergoing something of a revival and Conte’s time in English football was set to be short-lived.

Conte (above) said: ‘I remember that game very well because it was a really bad game for us.

‘We must live with this type of pressure. But I wasn’t worried because I trust in my work. I trust myself and my idea, in my methods. For sure I don’t change my mentality.’