Ex-Aston Villa star makes Birmingham City prediction that supporters 'won't be happy with'

Former Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke believes that Birmingham City will survive relegation from the Championship in a prediction that might ‘upset’ a few.

The 52-year-old, who spoke of his desire to return to football management, can only watch on as two of his former clubs battle to avoid the drop. Blues are in the relegation zone, a point off of safety whilst Blackburn Rovers are just three points ahead of them after a defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Speaking to TVSportGuide, the former Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers striker, Dwight Yorke, said: "Birmingham City are on the knife edge of being relegated, but I think they will just about stay up by the skin of their teeth.

“Villa fans won't be happy with me saying this, but I think it would be nice for Birmingham to at least stay in the Championship. Birmingham is a big city and it needs its clubs to be performing.

"Blackburn Rovers will be fine and stay up. They have really tailed off, but they looked really good at the start of the season. Now, they're around the midtable. They just lost to Sheffield Wednesday, which isn't a great result but I think they're a strong enough club to stay up."

Yorke had the privilege of playing for both second-city clubs during his 19-year playing career. He was more remembered for his time at Villa Park where he played 287 times, scoring 98 goals, helping them win the League Cup in 1996. He was sold to Manchester United for a reported £12.6m in August 1998 and went on to win the treble; the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League.

The 72-cap Trinidad & Tobago international returned to Birmingham in 2004 from Blackburn Rovers when Steve Bruce was in charge. He lasted just one season at St Andrew's, scoring just two goals in 16 games before winding down his career with Sydney and then Sunderland.