According to reports from just about everywhere City have been given permission to enter into talks with Birmingham manager Chris Hughton,

The Daily Mail, although not one of the most reliable sources proclaim that a compensation package has been agreed.  While Midlands media source Express and Star, simply say permission has been given for talks.

The Mail goes on to say that Hughton will be bringing his back room team with him, assistant Colin Calderwood, coach Paul Trollope and England goalkeeper coach Dave Watson, also expected to move with Hughton and is no stranger to Norfolk chief scout Ewan Chester.

The Telegraph is also bold enough to say Norwich have agreed to meet the £2m compensation fee demanded by Birmingham for Hughton.

A dam massive sigh of relief that it is Chris Hughton and not Bruce or McCarthy, my season ticket is safe now, there was no way that I would have continued to go along to Carrow Road with either of those football failures in charge. I would have lost complete trust in the board. 

Chris  Hughton, the former Tottenham and Republic of Ireland defender, was assistant to Martin Jol at White Hart Lane before moving to Newcastle, initially as coach, then caretaker manager.

Having been appointed permanent manager in 2009, he guided the Magpies to the Championship title that season, but was surprisingly sacked in the next campaign with the club 11th in the Premier League.

He replaced Alex McLeish as Birmingham boss in June 2011 and took them to fourth place in the Championship, a point above Blackpool, but Ian Holloway's side beat them 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged play-off semi-final.