Birmingham City have strengthened their front office by appointing John Murtough as director of football, filling the vacancy left by Craig Gardner's departure in June.

Murtough, 55, arrives with an extensive background in football administration. He spent 11 years at Manchester United, leaving his role as football director in April 2024. Before that, he held positions at Everton, Fulham, and Coventry City, and was employed by the Premier League before his move to Old Trafford in 2013.

Most recently, Murtough worked in Serie A as director of global development at Atalanta, adding Italian football experience to an already varied portfolio.

He is set to begin work at the US-owned club on Monday, after Birmingham conclude their Championship fixture at Cardiff City this weekend.

The timing comes during a promising spell for the Blues. Chris Davies' side are currently fourth in the Championship, riding a three-game winning streak built up since the international break.