In arguably one of the biggest shocks we've seen in the Championship all season, back in December, Gary Rowett was sacked by Birmingham City and was quickly replaced by Gianfranco Zola.

In a move no Blues fan could either comprehend or understand, one of the most loved modern-day managers we've seen at St. Andrews departed and was replaced by one of the best players to have ever graced the turf in England.

Granted, Gianfranco Zola's managerial career has yet to blossom like his glittering career but after yet another defeat on Friday evening, fans are beginning to turn on the Italian.

Birmingham are struggling and it's clear for all to see. Their form since Zola has taken the reigns has dipped drastically and what was once a season where promotion was on the cards has turned into another campaign where a mid-table finish is becoming more-and-more likely.

But to those fans who are calling for Zola's head, it's important to understand, reflect and consider where Birmingham City are as a club now and going forward.

Whether you like it or not, City's new owners are here to stay and they're here to rebuild, they said it themselves. Gary Rowett was fantastic given the capacity he had to spend and really invest in the side and rightly or wrongly, Trillion Trophy Asia have decided to put their money into a new project, centred on overhauling the squad.

For years, Birmingham have been a side that have been well-renowned for grinding out results and scraping by in order to fulfil objectives set for that campaign. There has never been that aspect of longevity or the sense that there is a real project in place.

Now there is. Zola is a man who the owners have entrusted in to play entertaining football that will undoubtedly grow as the squad develops together. Granted, that process does take time and as a football fan, the here and now is sometimes all that matters.

But there have been glimpses of good things over the past few weeks, despite that real inability to take games by the scruff of the neck and the results will come.

Keita looks a fantastic investment and when injuries subside, the squad will slowly but surely come back together too.

What Birmingham need now, more than ever before, is a fanbase that is willing to get behind a new, fresh project that could reap huge rewards in the future.

Rome wasn't built in a day.