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Championship: Burton Albion confirm Gary Rowett has left club to take over Birmingham
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Burton Albion have confirmed that manager Gary Rowett has left the club and taken up the vacant managerial role at Championship side Birmingham.
Rowett replaces Lee Clark who was sacked by the Midlands side last week. Rowett was in charge of Burton for two and a half seasons, taking charge temporarily in March 2012, before taking over permanently in May of the same year.
In his two full season at the club he led them to consecutive play-offs, losing in the final at Wembley last season to Fleetwood.
A statement on the club's official website read, "Burton Albion can today confirm that manager Gary Rowett has left the club in order to take up the vacant managerial position at Birmingham City."
Rowett's back room staff have alos left the club, with his coaching team of Kevin Summerfield, Kevin Poole and Mark Sale all following him to Birmingham.
Mike Whitlow, Head of Academy, will take control of Burton Albion first-team affairs on a caretaker basis and will be assisted by senior players Ian Sharps and Lee Bell.
The statement continued, "Birmingham City approached Burton Albion last week for permission to speak to Gary – a request that was granted."
"Burton Albion were today informed that Gary has accepted the position."
Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson said: “After the success Gary has achieved at Burton Albion over the last three years it was inevitable that there would be interest from other clubs.
"Gary is an ambitious young manager and the offer from one of his former clubs playing Championship football was one he wanted to take. We wish him well and thank Gary and his coaching team for what they have done for the club.”
Robinson added: “We will start the search for Gary’s successor immediately and know we will attract a lot of high calibre applicants for what is a very attractive job."