Pastures new

Congratulations to Chris Hughton, who has been given an opportunity to repeat his Championship-winning feat with the Blue Noses of Birmingham City. Of the two ex-Newcastle bosses now managing in the Championship, I know which one I'm hoping comes out on top.

Of course, with Hughton now back in management and seeking to get promoted, it will be interesting to see if he comes knocking on our door for any of the players who served him well at Newcastle, with the likes of Nile Ranger, Leon Best and Alan Smith all up for grabs, and with Championship scourge Wayne Routledge's move to QPR apparently dead in the water, all possibly on his shopping list. Similarly if, as expected, Ben Foster leaves Birmingham for pastures new, Hughton might also be interested in any one of our three keepers (albeit it looks like the club are unwilling to sell Fraser Forster, having rebuffed a £1.5 million bid from Celtic for the player).

One player who won't be joining him in Brum is Ben Tozer, recently released by Newcastle and now signed for Northampton Town, the team where he spend a portion of last season on loan.