Birmingham City want assistant manager Eric Black to takeover from Steve Bruce should he move to Wigan Athletic in the coming days.

The Birmingham Mail says Bruce is certain to want to take his trusted assistant with him to the JJB Stadium.

The pair have formed quite a bond since Bruce, despite not having worked with him before, appointed Black as Mark Bowen's replacement in the summer of 2004.

Blues will sound out Black to see if he is keen to take over the reins, like he did at Coventry City to much acclaim when Gary McAllister resigned.

Whether it would be for an interim period, with a view to getting the job permanently subject to proving his worth, could be a major debating point.

Black is on a 12-month rolling contract and Wigan owner Dave Whelan is unlikely to baulk at handing him a longer deal.