Sullivan vows players will stay

Blues co-owner confident players will stay if they are relegated

By Laura Slatcher   Last updated: 11th May 2008

David Sullivan Birmingham

Sullivan: Blues assurance

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Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has pledged there will be 'no mass exodus' of players if the club is relegated from the Premier League.

The Blues go into their game with Blackburn on Sunday knowing that a win may not be enough to ensure their top flight safety.

If either Reading or Fulham win against Derby and Portsmouth respectively then Birmingham will be relegated to the Championship for the second time in three years.

First-team regulars James McFadden and Stephen Kelly have already vowed to stay at the club and Sullivan is expecting many of the leading players will remain for next season.

Assurance

Writing in his programme notes for Sunday's game, Sullivan said: "If it does not work out and we are relegated, I want to assure you here and now that we expect it to be a very short return to the Championship.

"The Board will be doing all in their power to put a better team out on the pitch next season and bounce back straight away.

"There will be no mass exodus of top players if we go down. And, if we do stay up, we expect to be much higher up in the table next year."

McLeish backing

Sullivan has also reassured manager Alex McLeish that he will get his full support if the side do get relegated and will be encouraged to build the squad.

"The summer period will give Alex McLeish the opportunity to put together his own squad," Sullivan added.

"I am extremely confident that he has a good eye for a player and we will back him as much as we possibly can."