McLeish - I won't quit Blues

Birmingham boss vows to stay even if club are relegated

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 8th May 2008

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McLeish: Relegation threat

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Alex McLeish has vowed he will not walk away from Birmingham, even if they slip out of the Premier League on Sunday.

The former Scotland manager took the helm at St Andrews in late November following Steve Bruce's departure for Wigan, but has been unable to halt the club's slide into the relegation places.

Blues go into the final day of the season knowing even a win at home to Blackburn may not be enough to keep them in the top-flight, with the match being shown live on Sky Sports.

If either Fulham or Reading match Birmingham's result, then the Midlanders will be back in the Championship for the second time in three years.

But McLeish, who has presided over just four wins in his 24 games in charge, has no intention of walking away, and wants to be given the chance to shape his own side.

Vision

He said: "When I came, the short-term goal, the outcome for me, was for us to be in the Premier League at the end of the season. And I want to be a Premier League manager with this club.

"But there has also got to be a long-term vision as well. Until I am able to build a team myself, I would like to be judged then and that cannot happen overnight.

"I have been here five months, I have brought three players in. I think they have enhanced the squad.

"Of course we are not in the position I, nor anybody else, would have liked us to be in.

"But we still have a chance on Sunday, nothing has been settled and you have to believe.

"If you do get knocked down, then it's about how you get back up.

"I've said before that I want to make Birmingham a bona-fide Premier League team, not a yo-yo club going between the divisions all the time.

"I came here for the long term and nothing will change that."