Birmingham City sack manager Gary Rowett after more than two years in charge with the team seventh in the Championship.

Richard Wilford
BBC WM

The departure of Gary Rowett has come as a total shock to Blues supporters, particularly given his team had moved back up to seventh in the Championship with a 2-1 win over Ipswich.

In just over two years at St Andrew’s Rowett had achieved two top-half finishes with a squad assembled on an extremely modest budget.

The club’s new owners, Trillion Trophy Asia, say this is part of a “strategic, long-term view”, but they may well be under-estimating what the departing manager had achieved.

Birmingham City are currently seventh in the Championship.

Rowett had been in charge for two years.

"Supporters can rest assured that the decision has been taken with a strategic, long-term view and with the Club’s best interests at heart," a statement from the club said.

"An immediate replacement will be sought in order to afford the new manager the time to assess where the existing playing squad needs strengthening."

Birmingham City FC said Rowett had stabilised the team amid difficult circumstances.

"He has conducted himself professionally on behalf of the Club at all times and there is a genuine sadness at this course of action," the statement said.

Image source, Google

"However, new owners Trillion Trophy Asia Limited (TTAL) remains determined to lead the Club to a bright and exciting future."   

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A statement from Birmingham FC says Rowett's contract, and those of his backroom staff – Kevin Summerfield, Mark Sale, Kevin Poole and Darren Robinson – have been terminated with immediate effect.

"This has not been an easy decision to make," the statement said.

Image source, PA

"The Board would like to thank Gary and his backroom staff for their efforts and wish them all the best for the future."  

Birmingham City have tweeted that manager Gary Rowett has left the Championship club.

Nick Clitheroe
BBC Midlands Today

Fans and players of non-league Stourbridge FC are still celebrating a night of FA Cup magic, after reaching the third round for the first time in their history. 

The lowest ranked team left in the competition beat League One side Northampton.

You can watch my report on BBC1 from 13:30.

Image source, PA

BBC WM

A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH with intent, in connection with a serious assault at Smethwick Galton Bridge station on Monday evening. 

A man who was injured remains in hospital in a stable condition.  

The arrested man, of no fixed address, is in police custody whilst inquiries continue. 

Image source, British Transport Police

BBC Travel

Highways England say, external the M6 southbound is blocked between J6-5.

One lane is closed northboud, the rest of the lanes have re-opened. 

West Midlands Fire are dealing with a spillage from the overturned lorry.

Image source, Highways England

A crash between a car and a van has left three men in hospital. 

It happened on West Bromwich Road, Walsall yesterday evening. 

The driver of the car, a man in his 30s, was taken to hospital with injuries to his back, neck, chest, abdomen and arm. 

Image source, West Midlands Fire

The passenger of the car, a second man in his 30s, was also taken to hospital with a suspected fracture to his arm as well as multiple minor injuries to his finger, neck and chest. 

The van driver, a man in his 70s, was taken to hospital with chest pain and lower leg injuries. 

BBC Travel

The M6 is closed in both directions at J6-5 because of an overturned lorry. 

BBC Travel

The B4169 Joinings Bank in Oldbury, Birmingham is closed in both directions at the Moat Road junction, because of a burst water main, BBC Travel reports.

Allen Cook
BBC Local Live

A giant Christmas card that is believed to have broken the world record for most signatures has been presented to the armed forces, external in London.

The card, addressed to Britian's servicemen and women, measures 2.1m (7ft) high by 4.5m (15ft) wide.   

Image source, National Memorial Arboretum

It was put together by the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas and the front cover includes 800 images of the Staffordshire site.

The arboretum says the card, carrying more than 17,000 messages, was presented last night at 19:00 to Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, Chief of Defence People, who accepted the card on behalf of the British Armed Forces. 

The previous record, held by Dubai Police, external, is for a greetings card featuring 13,288 signatures.

The National Memorial Arboretum's record bid still needs to be ratified by Guinness World Records.

Brummie band UB40 have announced an eight date UK tour for next year.

The tour will include London, Manchester and Glasgow, as well as a hometown show at the Genting Arena on 15 December 2017.

Founding members Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Norman Hassan say they're excited to be back on tour.

Two men drag a heavily pregnant woman to the ground before spraying a substance in her eyes and stealing her car, police say.

A eight-month pregnant woman has been attacked and had her car stolen from a car park in Yardley. 

The 22-year-old was returning to her vehicle at Yew Tree car park when two men came up to her. 

They dragged her to the ground and pinned her down, before spraying a noxious substance into her eyes, taking her car keys and smashing her phone.

Police believe the men, external, both described as Asian, were "lying in wait" for her to return to her car on Sunday.

Image source, West Midlands Police

Stourbridge's FA Cup hero Jack Duggan returns to lectures less than 12 hours after his late winner against Northampton Town.

Twenty-five years after she went missing, the parents of Coventry teenager Nicola Payne have said they'll never give up hope of finding out what happened to her.