Birmingham have an initial shortlist of six targets for the managerial vacancy at St Andrews. Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo and Chris Hughton are on the list drawn up by owner Carson Yeung and acting chairman Peter Pannu.
Pannu said: "I am discussing the situation with Carson and we hope to install the new man as soon as possible.
"There are at least six (candidates) on the radar."
Former Newcastle boss Hughton is the number one choice of Birmingham fans in a poll conducted by the Birmingham Mail newspaper.
But Di Matteo and Zola are also free agents after their previous spells as manager of West Bromwich Albion and West Ham respectively.
