Gianfranco Zola makes honest admission about his Birmingham City appointment

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Zola was announced as the Blues’ new manager on Wednesday evening just hours after the sacking of Gary Rowett.

Newly-appointed Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted to the club’s official website that the players are sure to be very surprised to see him turn up at St. Andrew’s.

A crazy day at the Blues on Wednesday saw popular manager Gary Rowett sacked and replaced with the Italian in the space of less than six hours in the afternoon.

The decision to sack former Birmingham player Rowett was a shock to all, with the club sitting eighth in the Championship, just a point outside the play-off places.

Fans reacted with disbelief to the sacking, and even managerial colleagues such as Leeds United boss Garry Monk expressed their amazement at the move.

Now, in his first interview since the announcement of his arrival, Zola has acknowledged that even the players will be surprised at the developments, after he met with five senior stars on Thursday ahead of his first training session.

Zola told the club’s website: “I know that I am coming in for a coach that has done extremely well and he has my respect, but I will do my best to make sure that the club has made the right decision.

“I tried to put myself in the position of the players. They are probably very surprised, so I reassured them that I am here for them and to give everything I have got inside in terms of experience and knowledge to make them better.

“I have been asked to improve the team, where it is possible to improve, from the good job that has been done so far. They’re taking a risk as well, to change a manager who has done pretty well, to bring in a manager like myself.

“They have good ambitions and, rightly or wrongly, they believe this is a good move to take the club to another level. In time we will be able to tell if they were right or not.”

Zola will know that hitting the ground running with a win will make the transition somewhat easier.

It is no fault of his own, but the likelihood is that he will have to enjoy a superb start to life in the dugout if memories of the popular Rowett are to be forgotten.