Jaidi wants to stay at Blues

Defender believes he can contribute at St Andrews

Last updated: 6th March 2008

Radhi Jaidi

Jaidi: Wants to stay

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Birmingham defender Radhi Jaidi is facing uncertainty over his Blues future - but insists he wants to stay at the club.

The Tunisian's contract runs out in June 2009 and the club have an option on the final 12 months of his deal.

Blues boss Alex McLeish will decide this summer whether to take up the option and Jaidi, 32, would like to stay.

He told the Birmingham Mail: "I want to stay, of course. But that depends on the condition and the view of the club. It does not depend on me.

"Since I joined I have tried to show the club many things and I think I helped us last season, we wanted promotion straight away and we did it.

"This year, we also want something - to stay in the Premier League - and that's what I am focused on.

"I think next year we have the chance to be a very good team. If we stay up we will have learnt from what we went through and we will be more confident.

Good atmosphere

"If we do the continuation in our work and keep the good atmosphere in the dressing room, and we train hard with the manager and the coaches, then it will be promising for us.

"If we stay up, the manager will bring in some players for some positions and so will be even stronger next year, as well as having more know-how compared to this year.

"It is true, we don't have that many experienced players. Every team must be mixed, you must have some experience and some youth. Whether that helps me, I don't know.

"We have some young lads and they have good careers before them. But this is the first year in the Premier League for them.

"It has been hard, especially in the beginning, for them to run with this division a little.

"As one of the experienced players, I know I can help them and the club as well."

Opportunity

Jaidi did well on his return to the team in the 4-1 victory over Spurs last Saturday.

It was his first appearance for the club since leaving for Africa Cup of Nations duty in January.

"That's part of my job, to be calm and wait for the opportunity. That's part of football and when you are picked, you have to make the most of it.

"Now, it's harder for me because I need to show that I deserve to be in the team. So the next couple of games become more difficult and more important for me.

"After that, then I will find out if I have done what the manager requires."