Former Aston Villa and Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson is being lined up to return to big time football.

The Daily Star says Big Ron is being targeted to become the sporting director at Birmingham, if Gianni Paladini's consortium succeed in buying the club.

An initial offer worth around £25m has been rejected, though the former QPR chairman remains keen. But Paladini's plan to draft in the 73-year-old former Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Brom manager is raising eyebrows.

Atkinson, whose last managerial job was at Nottingham Forest in 1999, said: "If a deal goes through, then, yes, it would be of interest.

"I have had preliminary discussions, but for anything to happen the club would have to be sold first."