Blues plan McLeish approach

Scotland boss in frame for Birmingham post

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 26th November 2007  

Blues plan McLeish approach

McLeish: Birmingham target

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Birmingham are to make an official approach to the Scottish FA for permission to speak to Alex McLeish, according to Sky Sports News.

The Premier League club are hunting for a new manager following Steve Bruce's decision to leave St Andrews for Wigan.

Scotland boss McLeish came close to leading the Tartan Army to Euro 2008 despite being in a qualification group alongside World Cup holders Italy and beaten finalists France.

Speculation has been rife that he could be set for a return to club management and the Midlands looks set to be his next destination.

McLeish attended the draw for the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa on Sunday, and afterwards admitted a move to the Premier League would appeal.

Attractive

Speaking on Sunday, McLeish told Sky Sports News: "I will fulfil my Scotland duties until something else happens.

"At the moment there's a lot of speculation but football's a strange game and you don't know what can happen.

"Right now I'm the Scotland manager and the stuff you've been hearing is pure speculation and there's been nothing done about that.

"It is attractive to me in the long-term (managing in the Premier League) and may be something I can look forward to.

"Who knows, I could be away in two or three weeks or I could be here for the next five years and it wouldn't faze me to stay here and hopefully lead Scotland to the World Cup.

"If somebody were to come and make an offer then the SFA would probably have to listen and I'd have to listen."

Comments (6)

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Thomas Monks (Birmingham City fan) says...

Alex Mcleish would be a great addition to birmingham city. Everyone has seen what a fantastic job he has done at scotland and that will gain him the respect he needs from big name players in order to be a sucess story in the premier league. He will have eric black alongside him who has multi-lingual skills and has a good relationship with the players and the board. Bring on Mcleish..

Posted 07:42 27th November 2007

A M (Rangers fan) says...

No disrespect but - Birmingham ?? Big Eck's career has been on the up and up. SPL to Champions League to Euro 2008 to World Cup 2010. Surely other than financially Birmingham will be a step back ??? We'll see what kind of man he is in the coming days....

Posted 02:07 27th November 2007

Colin Young (Celtic fan) says...

Madness, utter madness, money is not everything, the Big Eck should keep his youthful Scotland squad, that has been knitted together ever so carefully and help them live their dream. Take them back to a World Cup, take them to a second round of a major tournament what no other manager could have done, now that is a challenge, that is something to boast about and to be proud of. Birmingham would never deliver that, never, really.

Posted 01:59 27th November 2007

Tom Hanna (Birmingham City fan) says...

As a lifelong Bluenose I would love to see Mcleish at Blues..as he has clearly shown he is a quality manager. However, I do fear that it may be a bit of stepdown for him, whether the appeal of a full on managerial position will take his fancy is the question. As a hardcore Bluenose ive got my fingers firmly crossed for Mcleish! Keep Right On!

Posted 00:24 27th November 2007

Jack Hobson (Chelsea fan) says...

McLeish would be stupid to trade Scotland for Birmingham. He's building a great team and establishing Scotland as an international force. It's great to see a British team doing the UK proud for once. Don't leave Scotland! If he does, he'll just be out of a job 8 months later anyway...

Posted 21:37 26th November 2007

Saff Hussain (Birmingham City fan) says...

Alex McLeish & Eric Black working together would be the better and more stable route for the Blues to get back to our battling ways. He's a class manager who has signed some quality players, and managing the national squad of scotland has not fazed him one bit - and look at some of the teams they played against. bottom line - keep Eric Black & bring in Alex McLeish!

Posted 21:27 26th November 2007
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