The assessment of personnel, tactics and formations by Francis and his assistant, Mick Mills, has been condensed even by pre-season standards: "One thing you've never got in management is time - you're always fighting it."The pressure on him has been intensified, if only in the media's eyes, by Little's success at Villa. "We're like Wolves in that there's great expectancy, but let's be realistic. We came 15th last season so there's a lot of work needed to make the top three."It is safe, though, to assume that consolidation is not on the agenda. He intends to prune, but said: "I'm all for using squads - you have to nowadays - but certainly you need a bit more stability."His first plunge landed the defender who led Manchester United to three championships.

"When you sign Steve Bruce you don't just get a footballer but the best captain in the country. How can you put a price on his leadership qualities? It also helped to get other players in."For all the owner's fan-like impatience, Francis plays down suggestions that he has two years to deliver promotion "No target's been set," he said. Many of those who passed through the revolving door shared his Barnet background Francis prefers Premiership pedigree. "What I would say is that when I was last here I helped the club up from the then Second Division. That's my aim again now."There were invitations, in the pre-Sullivan era, to come back as player- manager.

Francis preferred not to risk being remembered as "a has-been". But is it reasonable to expect Francis to recreate the impact he made as a player?"No, it isn't," he said, plain-speaking as planes roared over the training ground like a full house at the Maracana. Yet after a year out of the game, during which he proved himself a perceptive analyst with Sky, the opportunity he wanted came in May when Fry was hoist by his own PR.The previous incumbent had a fetish for mid-price forwards. Bankrolling the long-overdue rebirth of the Blues is David Sullivan, the Essex-based entrepreneur who bought the ailing club three and a half years ago.Throw in the arrival of Steve Bruce, Barry Horne, Gary Ablett and Mike Newell and it adds up to a feverish sense of anticipation as Birmingham prepare for their opening First Division fixture, at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday. Birmingham supporters over 30 go misty-eyed at the memory of the 16-year- old Francis, locks flapping on his shoulders, dispatching his fourth goal past the Bolton keeper.