Exclusive: Birmingham City plotting ambitious Middlesbrough raid | OneFootball

Blues are looking for a new Director of Football following Craig Gardner's post-season exit

Birmingham City are on the hunt for a new Director of Football, and they have a figure from a rival Championship club on their radar, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Blues didn't find life in the Championship last season as easy as their 111-point romp to the League One title in 2024-25, and although 10th place in the second tier was a reasonable ending, they saw fellow promotion side Wrexham - a club with similar lofty ambitions - finish a few places closer to the play-offs.

Pressure was on head coach Chris Davies to try and land another promotion with the Midlands outfit, but inconsistent results saw their top six challenge fade, but with an expensively-assembled squad, the expectations of landing in the newly-expanded play-offs will be greater than ever from the hierarchy, including chairman Tom Wagner.

Along with new recruits on the pitch this summer at St. Andrew's though will be a new Director of Football, after the departure from the role of ex-City midfielder Craig Gardner was recently announced.

Gardner was originally the club's Technical Director, having been appointed to the role in the summer of 2021, but he landed the Director of Football job in February 2025 - the Scotsman has lasted just over a year in that position though before moving on.

Middlesbrough's Kieran Scott eyed up by Birmingham City

The Birmingham hierarchy are now on the hunt for Gardner's successor in what will be an important role at the club above Davies, and FLW understands that one name on their radar is Middlesbrough's Head of Football Kieran Scott.

The 42-year-old has been with Boro since the summer of 2021, when he was headhunted by the Teessiders from Norwich City after a spell as their Head of Recruitment.

In his five years at the Riverside Stadium, Scott has not been able to help guide Boro back to the Premier League, but he has overseen a wealth of transfer business both in and out of the club that has seen them make significant profit at times.

One particular strong piece of business was landing Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from Atalanta for £4 million, before flipping him to MLS outfit Atlanta United for £22.5 million, whilst the snapping up of Morgan Rogers from Man City for just £1 million in 2024 paid dividends less than 12 months later, when Aston Villa recruited the attacking midfielder in a £15 million deal - one which Boro could still benefit from via a sell-on clause.

It has recently been claimed that West Ham, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are also eyeing up Scott for a senior role to assist Nuno Espirito Santo, who is staying on as the manager of the Hammers.

Birmingham though are now also looking into the possibility of hiring Scott as their successor for Gardner, although it remains to be seen which other candidates that Knighthead have in the frame for the important job.