The Apprentice's Claire Young 'scores Birmingham City job'

She was pipped at the post in the final of The Apprentice, but runner-up Claire Young  has shown she doesn’t need Sir Alan Sugar to succeed.

The show’s favourite, who lost to Lee McQueen  in the surprise final earlier this month, has reportedly been hired by Birmingham City Football Club in a deal worth more than the winner’s £100,000 contract with Sir Alan.

The club declined to comment this morning, but Young, 28, is said to have been offered the position after she impressed managing director, Karren Brady , who appeared on the BBC One show as a guest interviewer.

After grilling the former retail buyer, Brady told Sir Alan: “If you don't hire Claire, I will.”

Known as ‘The Rottweiler’, Young was despised by viewers early on in The Apprentice for her motormouth and aggression. But by the end of the series, she had displayed a talent for business and won over viewers.

Young’s fellow runner-up Alex Wotherspoon, 24, has also succeeded despite being fired by Sir Alan. He has reportedly been offered a host of modelling contracts.