Chris Hughton braced for departures at Birmingham

Birmingham's new manager Chris Hughton has said he is expecting a number of key players to depart the club in the coming weeks.

Among those tipped to exit St Andrew's this summer are defenders Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, as well as keeper Ben Foster. Former boss Alex McLeish, who defected to rivals Aston Villa, is thought to be planning a raid of the side's top stars.

"There have been offers for players and we have to work around the next few days to determine whether the offers are right," Hughton told BBC WM. "That'd be the first issue, making the decisions we have to make on players."

Hughton said he is planning to bring in some new faces to fill the void but is uncertain what funds he will have at his disposal. :What you don't want to be is left in a position come the last week of pre-season where you're desperate to bring players in," he continued.

"There are financial implications to be being relegated, and we have to try and manoeuvre that situation the best way that we can. At this moment we're talking hypothetically because every one of those players is still at this football club."