New Birmingham boss Chris Hughton targeting immediate Premier League return

Chris Hughton, Newcastle United (Getty Images)

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Chris Hughton has confirmed that his objective as the new Birmingham manager is to ensure that the club spends no more than one season out of the Premier League.

Blues were relegated to the Championship on the last day of the season and Hughton takes over from Alex McLeish, who recently left for local rivals Aston Villa.

When asked by skysports.com if his target was an immediate return to the top flight, Hughton said: “Yes. We know it will be a tough task. I hope I can do it.

“The ultimate aim is to get back into the Premier League, and the job starts now.

“It’s a tough season, a very tough division. I feel you want to work at a club where you have a good chance of getting back where this club wants to be and belongs. I feel I have that here.”

Birmingham will be among the favourites to go up but Hughton is aware that several players have become unsettled by the club’s relegation.

“I am aware that with relegation comes a financial side that has to be balanced,” the former Newcastle man admitted.

“We have had some very good players that have shown a desire they want to remain Premier League players.

“These are the type of things I will be addressing over the next day or so.”

Central defenders Scott Dann and Roger Johnson are among the players reported to be the subject of interest from Premier League clubs, and Hughton, who took Newcastle up into the top flight in 2010, wants to be sure that his team are hungry for the Championship battle.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. For me it is about a group of players showing a real desire to want to get back into the Premier League,” he said.

Hughton also expressed his happiness to be working at St Andrew’s.

“I am absolutely delighted,” he continued. “It is a job that ticks a lot of boxes for me. I am very aware of the history at the club.

“I consider Birmingham a proper football club; the tradition and support base that fits the club. I am delighted to be sitting here.

“I am very concious that what I regard as the big jobs only come around every so often.

“There are a lot of very good managers that I know would have been happy to be sitting where I am now.”

Hughton’s first competitive match in charge will be away to Derby in the first match of the new season.