Former Birmingham City midfielder Mehdi Nafti says his old club can't expect to compete with Aston Villa.

The new Aris signing told the Birmingham Mail: "I hope things go OK for Birmingham, but the gap between them and Villa is too big now.

"Why? I don't know but maybe you would have to ask other people at the club. They might.

"And I don't care, it's not part of me any more.

"I just think that the fans of Birmingham City deserve to have a club level with Villa.

"It would be more interesting for the Premier League, as well. You look at the other cities and there are two big, strong clubs. In Birmingham, no. The gap is too big, in terms of everything.

"Look at St Andrew's. I know Birmingham are trying to do something about the ground; even move. But in Tunisia, there are some grounds better than that."