Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan believes new manager Alex McLeish will be the ideal person to "shake up" the midlands club after he became Steve Bruce's successor today.
Sullivan felt that Blues had become "stale" towards the end of Bruce's six years in charge at St Andrews.
McLeish, who quit as Scotland boss to move to City, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract which will take him through until the summer of 2011.
And he has been promised funds to spend in January with Sullivan admitting the proposed takeover by Carson Yeung is unlikely to happen.
Sullivan said: "Alex McLeish will lead us into a new era and I think the club needs it. We've probably gone a little bit stale.
"We've only had three managers before this in nearly 15 years and we never get rid of them quickly. But perhaps it's right to have a bit of a shake-up and a fresh approach.
"Alex has experience, has produced results wherever he as been. He has a proven track record.
"His task this season will be to keep us in the Premiership and then carry on progressing."
Sullivan added: "He will have funds available in January. We will just have to see what the manger's thoughts are and come up with the solutions.
"You don't always get the good players available in January but we will see what develops."
Sullivan has given Yeung until December 20 to take control of Birmingham but he has until the end of this week to prove he can raise the £35million to do that.
Sullivan admitted: "I really can't see the takeover happening. It's dead in the water as far as I'm concerned.
"If there is any concern for Alex then we can show we've got a good track record with managers.
"Like I said, he's only our fourth manager in our 15 years in charge, his contract is with the club - and it is a good one."
McLeish has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the West Midlands club and admitted the lure of the Premier League and day-to-day management was a significant factor in his decision.
He said: "The Scotland campaign was over and I really thought long and hard about staying on. I knew of some interest in the Premier League and had a desire to get back to day-to-day football.
"I really enjoyed my time in the Scotland job, it was a good period for me which was not day to day but allowed me to rekindle my appetite for the club scene again.
"I've come to a club in great tradition in football with a fervent and fantastic fan base.
"I look forward to the challenge."
Chairman David Gold warned the protracted takeover deal with Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung is looking increasingly unlikely.
Gold admitted takeover rules which forbade Birmingham giving Steve Bruce an improved deal but allowed them to appoint McLeish was strange.
"It's bizarre, I've got to say," he said.
"It's bizarre in the sense that the takeover board wouldn't allow you to enhance an existing contract, however it is quite in order, in the event that that contract ends, it is within the power of the board to offer a brand new contract to a brand new person.
"It is a bit unusual and it surprised us, that's why we got legal clearance about what we could do."
Asked about the takeover, Gold said: "I started off believing bid was 90% assured and a couple of weeks ago I reduced that to 75%. Now I believe it's only 50% but only time will tell.
"The (current) board must actually take charge of the club and fully act as if the takeover doesn't happen, that's why we brought in Alex and are looking forward to the future."
"We are working on the basis the deal will not go ahead. If it does, that's another story.
"David (Sullivan, co-owner) and myself have been at this football club nearly 15 years and that's how it will continue until things unfold and we see where we are going in the future.
McLeish, meanwhile, admitted he is aware of the financial situation he will be in with regards transfers.
"I know the parameters and I'm comfortable with that," he said.
"I've always had a desire to come to the Premier League. I'd love to be managing in the Premier League for a considerable time."
