Mikey Burrows
BBC WM Sport

Former Villa assistant manager Peter Grant has backed Eric Black (pictured) to succeed at Villa Park despite his links to Blues and what Grant calls "delusional" fans. 

Image source, Empics

Black was confirmed as Remi Garde's new number two yesterday, nine years after he left the same role at St Andrews. 

Grant was Alex McLeish's assistant when they moved across the city five years ago.

BBC Travel

Traffic is slow on the A38(M) Aston Expressway inbound in Birmingham between M6 J6, Spaghetti Junction and B4132, Park Circus because of an earlier broken down vehicle.

All lanes have been re-opened but drivers are warned to expect delays.  

It will be windy and mild with rain at times through the morning, before becoming drier.

It will turn brighter and colder into the afternoon, but there will still be the chance of some showers - highs of 13C (55F).

Six schools in Birmingham and the Black Country are due to open as normal this morning following hoax bomb threats. 

West Midlands Police says the calls made yesterday morning were not credible. 

Three of the schools, Oldbury Academy, Bristnall Hall and Holly Lodge in Sandwell were also affected by hoax threats last week. 

Vince Green, principal at Bristnall says: "I hope the police investigation leads to putting an end to this to avoid a repeat occurrence."

Stephanie Barnard
BBC Local Live

I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for Birmingham and the Black Country.

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