Alex McLeish has resigned as manager of Birmingham City.
Birmingham won the Carling Cup in February but went on to be relegated from the Premier League at the end of the past campaign.
The club's board had stated that McLeish's job was "safe" in the aftermath of their drop into the Championship but the Scot has now decided to leave of his own accord.
Aston Villa are already being suggested as a possible destination for McLeish.
"Birmingham City Football Club can confirm that Alex McLeish has resigned as manager," said a statement on the club's website.
"Acting chairman Peter Pannu received an e-mail resignation from McLeish earlier on Sunday while away on business in Amsterdam.
"No further comment will be made at this moment in time and updates will be released in due course."
McLeish took over at Birmingham in November 2007 and, after the St Andrew's club narrowly missed out on top-flight survival at the end of that season, he led the Midlands outfit back into the Premier League after the following campaign.
Birmingham stayed in the top flight for two seasons and beat Arsenal to win the Carling Cup in 2011 before they were again relegated after losing to Tottenham in a dramatic final day of action in the 2010/2011 season.
Source: BBC