It is looking, barring some dramatic late developments, like Villa will announce Alex McLeish as it's new manager. This is a major disappointment to many and has caused widespread anger throughout the Claret side of the City.
The Villa fans must be kicking themselves that they made such a fuss over the possible signing of Steve McLaren, as images of Ancellotti and Hughes danced through their heads.
Villans don't know much about the Scot prior to joining the Blues. We know he was with Aberdeen and Motherwell, then Rangers. It seems that he was mostly second best to Martin O'Neill's Celtic, but began to have more success in the last season or so before MON moved to Villa.
At Blues, he immediately took City down to the second division after inheriting a Steve Bruce side that had played well the season before, but did lose players to Bruce's Wigan.
Eck, got Blues back up into the prem with stubborn performances. Grinding out results instead of ripping opponents apart. One report on Footymad on the Birmingham City board pointed out how Swansea, managed by Martinez, now at Wigan, passed the ball around them and totally dominated the game, only to be undone by a lucky Blues goal.
In their first season back, Blues went on the longest unbeaten stretch in their history to finish 9th. It was mainly thanks to a shrewd loan signing of Hart from Man City.
As good as a run as they had, it was almost as bad at the end of the next season and in the tightest premier league relegation race in memory, they fell on the final day.
McLeish has had some really good signings at Birmingham and some not so good ones. Dann and Johnson tightened up the defence. Ridgewell, was adequate at left back, but is invaluable in the opponents area where he has scored timely goals.
Steve Carr looked on his way out of football, but has been a good leader.
Bowyer, Gardner and Ferguson have shored up the midfield in an unglamourous but effective way.
Up front has been the problem. Chucho seemed to be the answer, but never settled into the English game. He really needed another season or two. Zigic had his moments, but got hurt. Martins was past his sell by date and even he briefly helped them and they got silverware with him.
The problem was he has stood behind a lot of average second rate players, whether through neccessity or not we'll never know, like Cameron, Fahey and O'Connor.
Eck even somehow got hold of some magical 19 yr old Argentinian on loan, but couldn't keep him.
On the down side he made some Salifou type signings too... like Michel, Hleb (Pires anyone?) and Derbyshire. Who would have thought that one would be bad?
He went to Hart's neighbours and took a shot at Ben Foster which was a great signing, while what looked to the Blues fans a can't miss signing, Bentley off Spurs did not deliver.
Villa fans are expecting if Eck does come to Villa a plethora of Blues players leaving for B6. But, it is unlikely Blues will make this easy.
Foster, Dann and Johnson are high on the wish list, but even if a deal is made at least one of those may not want to follow Eck. Roger Johnson had a major falling out in January with his manager. Although they kissed and made up, will it stop the centre half wanting to follow him?
For all his failings, there are folks on the Birmingham fans footymad board that have defended him to the end. They know he had a good footballing brain. Makes mostly good signings and with a board that was willing to spend like Villa did on a Darren Bent, insead of Obami Martins, he would have kept them up.
Villa fans have to be concerned about his youth policy. Villa's is among the best in the country. Blues had a young exciting midfielder, Jordan Mutch, that nobody knows about. He played superbly against Bolton in the cup. But, rarely got a look in to the first team.
There is a lot to be concerned with, of course. But, with some smart signings and a hint of luck early on this could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.