FORMER Birmingham City defender Garry Pendrey has been Gordon Strachan's right-hand man throughout the Scotland legend's managerial career.

Born in Birmingham, Pendrey came through the Blues' ranks and played 360 games for the club before spells with West Brom, Torquay, Bristol Rovers and Walsall.

After hanging up his boots in 1983 he became a coach at Walsall and was on the coaching staff at Wolves before returning to Birmingham as manager in June 1987.

He left the club after they were relegated the third division for the first time in history and he rejoined Wolves.

When Strachan became Coventry manager in manager in November 1996, Pendrey was appointed assistant manager.

The pair were reunited at Southampton in 2002 and again at Celtic in 2005.

On Strachan's appointment to the Boro hotseat in October 2009 Pendrey was a natural choice to join him at the Riverside.