Ex Black Cats manager and now chief scout Ricky Sbragia is said to have turned down the chance to be Birmingham City's assistant manager.
Ricky is a massive fan favorite after keeping Sunderland AFC up when Roy Keane walked out, after Keane found he wasn't up to the job of managing a premier league club.
The Blues boss Alex McLeish inquired towards availability of Sbragia, with Sunderland granting permission for the midland's club to begin talks on a possible move.
Birmingham are in need of a number two after Roy Aitken, left to work under David O'Leary at Al Ahli in Dubai.