‘Very strange. Naive’ - Respected Sky Sports pundit criticises Birmingham City’s John Eustace sacking as Rangers job chances shorten

Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock has weighed in on Birmingham City's controversial decision to sack John Eustace.

Warnock played for Blues’ inter-city rivals Aston Villa, from 2009 to 2013, and made over 100 apearances for the Villains, but came to the defence of Eustace, who’s departure has shocked the English football public.

Eustace at the time of his departure from St Andrews has left the club in sixth, occupying a play-off spot heading into the second international break of the season.

The Solihull-born midfielder did that amid talk of Wayne Rooney taking over last month after Eustace had been linked with the Rangers job.

As a result of Eustace’s sacking, the 43-year-old is now the firm favourite once again to take charge at the Scottish Premiership giants.

He has been given a glowing reference by former Liverpool defender Warnock, who believes the job he did during his 15-months in charge will put him in good sread.

“I find it very strange because when you actually read the statement, I’d be thinking what a statement to pass in to my next club,” said Warnock on Football Talk on Sky Sports News.

“What a CV of an achievement. We all know Birmingham over the last few years have struggled as a football club, financially with the restraints.”

“Everything that has gone on behind-the-scenes, and you want someone to come in and steady the ship. Then to progress the club from fighting relegation and then to take them to a play-off place.

“I know it’s early on in the season, but there’s a big contrast to the way they’re playing, and the way that the recruitment has been done over the summer.”

The new first-team manager will be announced in the 'coming days' according to the club, and Wayne Rooney is expected to take the reigns.

In their parting statement to Eustace, they said the new manager would have a clear 'no-fear' playing style at Birmingham, that the first-team would adopt.

“You’re putting out a statement saying we want to play no-fear football, what is that?,” questioned Warnock.

“To me, I want to win football games, you can play no fear football but it doesn’t mean you’re going to win football games.

“Football games in the perfect world, there’s Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp, and there’s that style of football.

He added: “In the perfect world, you’re paying a premium for those players, who are able to put out what the managers asking me to do, you’ve got the best players in world football playing no-fear football.

“You’re in the Championship, one of the hardest leagues in world football, if not the hardest one either to stay in or get out of.

“To play no-fear football is very naive. You want to play very naive. You want to play winning football, and whether that is ugly one day and a little bit sort of backs to the wall the next day, and open expansive another then great. You win it all costs, and that is a big thing.”