Gary Newbon: Just how in the hell have Blues got themselves in this position?

The American owners of Birmingham City, led by chairman Tom Wagner, are to be commended for their plans off the pitch.

But, folks, what really matters is what happens on it! How the hell did Blues get in this position where they are dependent on other sides just above them losing?

They have to beat Norwich at home on Saturday to stay in the Championship and trust that Plymouth Argyle lose at home to Hull and/or Sheffield Wednesday lose at Sunderland.

A draw against the Canaries at St Andrew’s would not be enough unless Argyle lost by more than four goals! Blackburn, at Leicester, need a point to make sure they stay up and, of course, the Foxes are already promoted.

Norwich will still need the points unless West Bromwich lose to Preston at The Hawthorns. It is all very tight.

League One for Birmingham? It’s difficult to comprehend. Quite frankly, despite various management claims about the Blues players being good, only 21-year-old striker Jay Stansfield has really impressed me and he is on loan from Fulham.

In fairness to the new owners, they have inherited most of the squad which clearly needs a big overhaul.

Hopefully, the manager, Tony Mowbray, will make a full recovery from his serious illness. We have not been told what it is and his privacy must be respected.

If he does not return, I would certainly hope that Gary Rowett will stay on board.

Ipswich are level with Leeds on points but have an inferior goal difference of seven. However, the Tractor Boys have a game in hand which is at Coventry tonight. Although the Sky Blues have missed out on the play-offs, it has been a decent season for being so very close to making the FA Cup final.

Knowing Mark Robins, I am sure they will be playing for pride tonight before playing in front of their fans again on Saturday against Queens Park Rangers, whose recent good form has lifted them away from relegation.

Aston Villa’s chances of finishing in the top four and therefore a Champions League place were helped when the referee/VAR disallowed what would have been a Chelsea winner near the end for a foul on Diego Carlos.

Chelsea’s manager and players protested like mad. I agree with the referee, I saw a push on Carlos! What helped even more was Spurs losing 3-2 at home to Arsenal on Sunday, which puts control back in Villa’s favour with three remaining Premier League games at Brighton on Sunday, Liverpool at Villa Park on May 3 and finally Crystal Palace away on May 19.

By the way, referee Michael Oliver missed a penalty for Spurs until VAR reviewed it to help him change his mind. No-one credits VAR for that!

I have sympathy with Coventry’s disallowed FA Cup semi-final ‘winner’ against Manchester United.

Not so much that Haji Wright’s toenail was offside (which it was), but I thought a little time ago it was agreed to give the attacking side the benefit of the doubt.

In my opinion, it should be the whole body offside but I suppose that will not happen and the arguments should go on.

Meanwhile Villa, still enjoying an excellent season, are the only English club left in Europe and on Thursday at 8pm they are at home in the semi-final of the Europa Conference League first leg against the Greek side Olympiacos (TNT Sports).

It is good news that Unai Emery has extended his contract. Villa are favourites to win this competition but no Emi Martinez.

He is suspended and was injured on Saturday when replaced by Swedish international Robin Olsen at half-time in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

Solihull Moors are having a great season. They are going to play at Wembley for the next TWO weekends – on Sunday in the National League play-off final for a place in next season’s League Two, and then the following Saturday against Gateshead in the FA Trophy final.

It would be wonderful to win both but the priority is getting into the EFL.

Two years ago, the Moors lost the play-off final to Grimsby in extra-time after opening the scoring.

This time, they have a better team, captained by their best player Jamey Osborne, who missed that final through suspension.

They were not favourites to win the semi-final play-off on Saturday at Barnet, who finished second in the final National League table, but manager Andy Whing’s gameplan was successful and the Moors won 4-0. It was a great week having beaten Halifax 4-2 at home on Wednesday.

Now they have to keep their game up against Bromley, who finished third in the table and will be favourites even if Solihull beat them in the semi-final of the FA Trophy. Neither team have ever been in the EFL.

Moors chairman Darryl Eales has earned this success with what he has done in six years there.

Whing has exceeded expectations having stepped up from Banbury. A former player with Brighton and Coventry, he scored the very last goal at the old Sky Blues’ Highfield Road ground. Now he is on the verge of something else special.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games boxing heavyweight gold medallist Lewis Williams, from Leamington Spa, is taking on a ballet star Dominic Antonucci in an exhibition match on Sunday at the Cleary’s Gym in Leamington.

Dominic, 50, was a principal dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet before becoming assistant director of the BRB to the great Carlos Acosta.

Both Dominic and Lewis are great friends of mine. Both are boxing mad, so this was my idea for Dominic’s 50th birthday present.

He has been training with Birmingham’s Jon Pegg and I warned 24-year-old Lewis (all 6ft 6in of him) that Dominic is super-fit with a six-pack stomach!

Should be fun!