Chelsea's powerbrokers were taken aback by the hostility shown by fans towards managerial candidate Rafa Benitez this week.
The Daily Mail says more than 3,000 Blues fans were at Birmingham on Tuesday and many made their feelings clear about the idea of former Liverpool manager Benitez taking control.
This registered firmly with chairman Bruce Buck, chief executive Ron Gourlay and technical director Michael Emenalo, who were all at St Andrews to see Chelsea win their FA Cup fifth round replay 2-0.