Steve Cotterill targeting Premier League with Birmingham after taking charge of beleaguered Blues

Birmingham are third-bottom of the Championship table heading into a two-week international break that Cotterill wants to make the most of

Steve Cotterill is targeting the Premier League after taking charge of the third-bottom Blues (Getty)

Steve Cotterill is targeting promotion with Birmingham but knows he has work to do if he is to guide the rock-bottom Blues back to the Promised Land.

The 53-year-old was appointed on Friday replacing Harry Redknapp on a two-and-a-half-year contract and watched from the stands the following day as his side were thrashed 6-1 at Hull.

That result left Birmingham third-bottom of the Championship table heading into a two-week international break that Cotterill wants to make the most of.

"For this club the Premier League is everything. It is a Premier League club," he said. "The people who work here are Premier League. We have Premier League supporters and a Premier League fanbase. And we have to make sure we do our best to get back up there.

"But that is a long-term plan. The short-term plan is to get away from a relegation zone. There has to be a short-term plan for every long-term plan. My priority is to get on the training ground with the players. That is where I want to be.

"I want to get to know the lads. I only had about a month with them last season. It takes a long time to get the ingredients for a person and work out what makes them tick.

"They will have a manager who will be strong, but a manager who will be strongly behind them."