Birmingham boss Hughton admits contact made with Hibs over Calderwood

Last updated : 06 July 2011 By Steve Forbes

New Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton has today admitted that he would love to appoint Hibs boss Colin Calderwood as his No.2.

Calderwood was No.2 Hughton at Newcastle United, before leaving to become Hibs boss in October.

Hughton has today admitted that contact has been made with the Hibs hierarchy, and that Birmingham have done it by the book, unlike Nottingham Forest, who's manager Steve McClaren had tried to unsettle Calderwood through the press, an action that caused Hibs chairman Rod Petrie to release a statement blasting the Championship club.

Hibs knocked back a compensation offer of £300,000 from the Blues last week, but Hughton is keen to land his man, he said:

"It has been mentioned regarding Colin.

"We have had dialogue with the Hibs chairman and from that point we have done absolutely everything right.

"We are very conscious that he is their manager, very much so.

"Most people are very aware that I took Colin to Newcastle.

"He's somebody I know very well, he's a very good coach and of course I would like to bring him here. But I go back to saying that we are very, very conscious that he's the Hibs manager."