The directors' box offered few clues to the identity of any potential new manager, although two of new owner Flavio Briatore's guests, supermodel Naomi Campbell and socialite Tamara Beckwith, can probably be ruled out.
The less glamorous Steve Bruce, whose job at Birmingham could be on the line, was also in attendance but those closely linked with the role - Glenn Roeder, Martin Allen and, most recently, legendary ex-manager Terry Venables - were nowhere to be seen.
