Transfer Zone

Alex McLeish Praises Birmingham City Board For Providing Funds For Transfers

The Blues boss has already been able to bring in a number of new players this summer as they prepare for life in the Premier League...

Jun 30, 2009 2:43:43 PM

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Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has moved to express his gratitude to the club's board for releasing funds to bring in new recruits during the close-season.

Having finished as runners-up in the Championship last season, the Blues are set to return to the Premier League after a year's absence.

Despite the club performing so well in the 2008-09 season, the Scottish tactician realises that the step up to England's top-flight requires a significant improvement in the quality of players in the first-team squad.

It seems that the former Rangers and Scotland head coach was most concerned about the centre of defence, but is now breathing a little easier following the acquisitions of Roger Johnson, Scott Dann and Giovanny Espinoza.

"The money that we have spent has been exceptional in my opinion and the board deserve credit for that," McLeish told Sky Sports.

"I really thought that we would get one centre-half and then I'd have to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get another one, and the board have pushed the boat out to get me three."

However, the 50-year-old is well aware that throwing money here and there will not guarantee Premier League survival, although he says it does give teams a better chance of bringing in players who can compete at the highest level.

"Spending millions of pounds doesn't guarantee anything and you just have to look at the casualties of the last Premier League," McLeish remarked, hinting at the fall of Newcastle United and Middlesbrough.

"But it is a very unforgiving league and if you don't have the players who want to be winners you are going to have problems."

Ricky Brooks, Goal.com