Brum boss McLeish demands new contract talks after his assistant quits
Published 23:00 08/07/10 By James Nursey
Alex McLeish has urged Birmingham to finalise his new contract swiftly after City's No.2 Roy Aitken quit.
Brum owner Carson Yeung is keen to tie boss McLeish, 51, to a new long-term deal after he guided promoted City to ninth in the Premier League.
But talks and negotiations have been going on since early this year with McLeish now into his final 12 months.
And McLeish, appointed in November 2007, has since seen Aitken leave this week to work with David O'Leary at Al Ahli in Dubai.
McLeish said: "Now we're about to embark on another campaign, I think it's the right time to drive it forward.
"We've had a very amicable conversation and negotiations but I'm sure that the debate will probably continue for a wee while yet.
"It's the right time because if there are players attracted to come to Birmingham and players attracted to play under myself and my coaches, then they have to know that my future is with Birmingham.
"Also, the players who are here need that reassurance as well as we're all trying to build something and progress."
But Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu insisted: "There will be improved terms for Alex.
"Alex is our manager, we are planning for the new season, and I don't see there being problems."
