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Club Focus - Birmingham City - Contract talks for vital duo
This week has seen good news all round for Blues fans. As the drama behind Robbie Savage’s comments settled, Birmingham fans have been able to relish their victory over Derby County and subsequent tie against troubled side Portsmouth in the sixth round of the FA Cup.
As well as that on-field news, the contracts of two men that are directly responsible for the success of Birmingham this season have been under review. Boss Alex McLeish, who took over in late 2007, has been the catalyst for their good form so far. Although he failed to save them from relegation in the 2007/08 season, McLeish’s managerial abilities have meant that since their relegation, the Blues have experienced nothing but success. A quick return to the Premier League meant that McLeish could once again tackle the league that had originally drawn him to the Midlands outfit. This season has been an unmitigated success for the Blues and the majority of fans recognise that this is down to McLeish. He has bought players that are competent and work well together, he has given the club stability through the turbulent takeover and now as a consequence of Carson Yeung’s introduction, he seems to be the right man to take the club forward.
McLeish’s contract is due to expire in 18 months and Yeung, along with vice-chairman Peter Pannu clearly understand it is vital he is retained as manager: "We have indicated to him, in no uncertain terms, that we want to have a future with him at the club. We told him that we want him to stay.” McLeish seems to certain to stay - after all, there is no reason for him to go anywhere. Birmingham appear to be in a secure financial state, the team’s league position is exceptional and although recent results have dropped slightly, this season will be used as a benchmark for an improved effort next term. On top of this, the former Scotland Coach has been promised, although mildly irresponsibly by Yeung, a hefty transfer budget. Only £6m of the said budget was spent in January so one would presume that he has the resources to buy players in the summer to improve City even further.
The Scotsman has always been a highly-regarded manager and has always enjoyed some form of success at all the clubs and nations he has resided power over, but his tenure at Birmingham seems to have a sense of durability about it. He is in charge at a time where a new board have arrived and with all takeovers, changes will be made. However, unlike Manchester City with Mark Hughes, Birmingham’s board have complete trust in McLeish which intimates he will be given the time to build a squad capable of challenging for Europe and domestic honours. On the topic of Birmingham and Manchester City, Birmingham’s keeper Joe Hart, on loan from the Manchester outfit, appears to be set to stay at St.Andrew’s for a further season. The Eastlands club are reluctant to sell Hart as they can see the same talent as McLeish - on one hand, they will be looking to the future and the possibility of having England’s number one on their books, while on the other hand a second successive season for Hart in which he does well would increase his value, and as a result, his value would go up - not that City need the money, however.
Hart has arguably been Birmingham’s best player this season with Roger Johnson vying with him for that accolade. To put Hart’s form into context, at this point of the season in Birmingham’s last Premier League stint, they had conceded 38 goals - this season, they have conceded just 26, a total only bettered by three sides. Of course much of that goes down to the four men in front of Hart but on countless occasions this season, his importance has been seen - the late save at Derby being a perfect example.
At the same time, Hart still has the sporadic flash of naivety and mistakes that show he is not yet the finished article. Manchester City are obviously hoping that such instances are eradicated if he is to return to Manchester, whenever such an event may happen. They have decided that Birmingham is the best place for this to happen: "They have said they will let him stay here for another season on loan, but he is not for sale. They appreciate the way Alex has built him up and will give us priority on the loan deal. He will be with us for another season, unless anything changes. That is the position.” By seemingly securing Hart for another season, Birmingham have kept a man that by the start of next season may well have been England’s goalkeeper for the World Cup.
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