Deathy SSN claim it was Rafa, but he's denied he wants to go. He says he is staying because of the fans, the staff and the team.Big Foot Alex McLeish.
Came out on the eve of the PL opening day last week saying the club "wasn't ready for Premiership" and needed another 4 signings but funding wasn't as available as he'd like or expect
I also tipped him to be the first PL manager to get the boot
Are you aware of how much he has spent this summer?!
£20M
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 795469.ece
Alex McLeish has admitted on the eve of the season-opener that Birmingham City are not ready for the Barclays Premier League.
While the Birmingham board is endeavouring to flush out Carson Yeung’s latest takeover bid by insisting that he bank a non-refundable six-figure sum as proof of intent, their manager has called for more funds for new players.
An injury crisis in defence has meant McLeish putting left backs on trial before the daunting match away to Manchester United on Sunday. Grégory Vignal, the former Liverpool left back, signed a one-year contract yesterday, subject to a medical.
McLeish has spent about £20 milllion this summer, but injuries to Scott Dann, David Murphy, Stuart Parnaby, Liam Ridgewell and Martin Taylor have cut deeply into his back-four options. Also, Giovanny Espinoza, signed from Barcelona Sporting Club, in Ecuador, Christian Benítez, the club’s record £9.2 million signing from Santos Laguna, in Mexico, and Marcus Bent are unfit.
Birmingham have yet to receive an offer from Grandtop International Holdings Ltd, the company owned by Yeung, which is considering a £70 million offer to claim a majority shareholding in the club.
Amid fears that Yeung’s approach may trigger another period of protracted uncertainty, the like of which encouraged Steve Bruce, then manager, to leave for Wigan Athletic two years ago, it is understood that the Birmingham board is negotiating to lever a significant down-payment within six weeks from the Hong Kong businessman, who already owns a 29.9 per cent stake.
“I am not obliged to talk about that situation,” McLeish said. “It’s a business matter, so I will leave that to the board, but I know that we still need more players and somehow we have to find the money for that.
“We are not equipped for the Premier League as things stand now. We still need three more players, at least.
“It’s downright bad luck that we have had some injury problems. That’s no one’s fault. But it has to be realised that if this team is to stay in the Premier League we need more quality. I will endeavour to do my very best and draw on all my experience to keep us in the Premier League, but we are definitely a little short of investment.”
The signing of Vignal is a step in the right direction and McLeish has the benefit of having worked with the Frenchman when at Rangers. “He’s a good athlete, he’s mobile and he’s strong and aggressive,” McLeish said. “I think he stirred the fans up and British fans appreciate that kind of approach.”
