Birmingham dismiss Fry's long-time No 2

David Sullivan, the Birmingham City owner, yesterday insisted that the dismissal of the club's assistant manager, Edwin Stein, was not for disciplinary reasons.

Stein left the club following allegations that he played cards with coach David Howell and a player in a hotel bar into the early hours of the morning prior to the recent match at Tranmere.

His departure ends a 15-year working relationship with the manager Barry Fry, which began at Barnet and continued at Southend and St Andrew's.

"Stories about alleged misbehaviour are irrelevant to everything. This decision was a football one," Sullivan said. "Edwin and David trained the team and you have to question some of our tactics. Our corners and free-kicks are useless and the team are not doing as well as they should be. The fact that Edwin has not moved up to Birmingham from London is also unacceptable and shows a lack of commitment."

Fry's position is unchanged. "Barry is safe," Sullivan said. "The only way he will go is if he has had enough." Howell has been relieved of his duties for two weeks and, Sullivan said, "will think about his situation".

Another managerial casualty was John Lambie, who resigned at Falkirk after failing to lift them off the bottom of the Scottish Premier Division.

Bolton's fight for Premiership survival suffered a heavy blow yesterday when keeper Keith Branagan damaged knee ligaments in training was ruled out for the rest of the season.