Birmingham City are prepared to offer Eric Black the full-time manager's job to stop him following Steve Bruce to Wigan Athletic.

The Sunday Mirror says Brum chairman David Gold was locked in talks last night with Steve Bruce's right-hand man trying to prevent him following his boss to Wigan and leaving the club in total chaos. They have warned Black they will put him on gardening leave if they have to rather than let him go to the JJB Stadium now.

But they are also holding out the scenario that if he stays as caretaker and does well he could end up becoming a Premier League boss in his own right.

Gold knows the former Aberdeen player's one previous attempt at management ended when he was sacked by Coventry despite an unbeaten run. And he's hoping a tug on the heartstrings will be the best way to stop Black leaving Birmingham in total limbo.