Wembley hero returns to Birmingham City in 'forward' move

Birmingham City have announced the return of Paul Tait with the club's former midfielder joining as a mentor to players.

Tait, who played 170 times for Blues in a ten-year spell in the 1990s, has joined Blues to provide support to players.

He is working toward becoming a counsellor, currently doing his qualifications, and will work in an educational setting at St Andrew's.

Tait's finest moment in Royal Blue came against Carlisle United in the 1995 Football League Trophy when he scored the winner at Wembley

Tait, 50, took his jersey off to reveal a shirt with a message for Blues' fierce cross-city rivals Aston Villa.

Speaking to Blues' official website, Tait outlined his role at the club and what he hopes to achieve at St Andrew's.

"Absolutely fantastic to be here," he said.

"It has been a journey for me, and I am just delighted to be connected with the club again.

“I am hoping that there is a different voice there for them. They can come to me, I won’t judge them, it is nothing to do with the club, it is between me and them.

“The pressures on young lads coming through these days are far greater. There is so much pressure, they bring so much baggage with them.

“It is about being proactive rather than reactive. The club is looking forward now, as many clubs are, to how we can help young players. We always seem to react to a situation, but when you actually speak to a player it could have been nipped in the bud a few months earlier.

“The biggest tool I can do is to listen.”

Tait also turned out for Millwall and Northampton Town during his playing career and featured for Oxford United and the Cypriot team Nea Salamis.

He made over 250 career Football League appearances.