McLeish stays committed to Blues

Last updated : 12 August 2010 By BBC Sport

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has dismissed speculation linking him with the vacant managerial role across the city at rivals Aston Villa.The Blues boss told BBC WM: "I'm not going to answer questions about another job or other clubs because I've got a job to do here and it's a good job.

"I've trying to show that Birmingham can be a Premier League team again."

McLeish has been touted as a possible successor to Martin O'Neill, who resigned as Villa boss on Monday.

But the 51-year-old Scot is hoping to agree a new 12-month rolling contract at St. Andrew's and added that negotiations are ongoing.

The former Rangers manager guided Blues to ninth in their first season back in the Premier League last term, having won promotion from the Championship in May 2009.

Meanwhile, McLeish has ended his interest in signing Juventus midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, while another target, AZ Alkmaar forward Moussa Dembele, has decided to pursue other options.

Blues begin the new season with a trip to Sunderland on Saturday, and McLeish is hoping to give a debut to goalkeeper Ben Foster, who was forced to withdraw from the England squad on Tuesday.

"He's got a spasm in his back," said McLeish, at Thursday's pre-match press conference. "We're hopeful that he'll make it. He thinks he will but we'll just have to wait and see."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport