STAY TO GET BLUES BACK UP-ROWETT

NTERIM boss Gary Rowett has challenged his relegated Birmingham players to lead the team back to the Championship after they were relegated, despite the win over Norwich City.

-  Tim Nash

INTERIM boss Gary Rowett has challenged his relegated Birmingham players to lead the team back to the Championship after they were relegated, despite the win over Norwich City.

Paik Seung-ho’s 55th-minute winner became irrelevant because of wins for rivals Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle and Blackburn Rovers.

It means Blues will be playing in the third tier for the first time in 30 years after 13 seasons in the Championship and four last-day brushes with relegation in the past 11 years.

“There are some players that it would be great if they had the responsibility to say ‘I’m going to stay to get this club back into the Championship’,” said Rowett, who will now leave the club as manager Tony Mowbray recovers from a health problem.

“I think sometimes it’s easy for people to look at the exit door and look for the easy way out. Maybe that’s something players need to look at.