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Gianfranco Zola resigns as manager of Birmingham after Burton defeat leaves them just three points off the drop

The Italian joined with the St Andrew's club just a point off the playoffs but a disastrous run including just two league wins and 14 defeats now has them three off the drop zone

Ben Burrows
Monday 17 April 2017 18:00 BST
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Gianfranco Zola has resigned as manager of Birmingham City after winning just two of their last 24 games
Gianfranco Zola has resigned as manager of Birmingham City after winning just two of their last 24 games

Gianfranco Zola has resigned as manager of Birmingham after the home defeat to Burton left the Blues staring down the barrel of relegation from the Championship.

The visitors completed the season double over the hosts thanks to goals in either half from Lloyd Dyer and Lucas Akins at St Andrew's.

The result sees them leap-frog over Birmingham, who are now just three points above the drop zone following their latest body blow.

The Italian joined with the St Andrew's club in seventh place just a point off the playoffs, but a disastrous run including 14 defeats now has them just two off the drop zone.

Akins' goal prompted an immediate chant of "we want Zola out" from the disgruntled home fans as Birmingham slipped further into trouble near the foot of the Championship.

And Zola acquiesced resigning within an hour of the final whistle with the club revealing the news in a short statement on Twitter before admitting he regretted not being able to turn things around.

"I'm sorry because I came here with huge expectations and the results, unfortunately, haven't been good. I take full responsibility for that," he said in his post-match press conference.

"I'm the first one to be disappointed by results. If I feel like I cannot help the team, it's better that I leave somebody else to do that."

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