Alan Curbishley was a Birmingham player when Ron Saunders moved from Aston Villa to take charge of Blues nearly 30 years ago and knows from experience the level of ill feeling between the rival club's supporters. He told Sky Sports: "When Ron Saunders went from Villa to Birmingham there was uproar. I can understand the furore that is going to happen if Alex McLeish goes to Villa.
"I think people outside of the city of Birmingham don't understand the rivalry between the two clubs. It is massive.
"Perhaps Alex, if he does go to Villa, has not thought that bit out and it is a big situation he is going into. If it does happen, there will be some tricky times ahead."
