Birmingham stars set for crunch meeting over new deals - Exclusive

Barry Ferguson is set to head a delegation of Birmingham players for a crunch meeting with the club's new owners over improved contracts.

MirrorFootball revealed yesterday Liam Ridgewell, 25, is unhappy at City's failure to finalise a new deal after starting negotiations in November.

Ridgewell ready to slap in transfer request - Exclusive  

Defender Ridgewell has become exasperated following weeks of communication to and fro with Hong Kong, where City owner Carson Yeung works.

Midfielder Sebastian Larsson, 24, is also out of contract in the summer and trying to finalise a lucrative new four-year deal like Ridgewell.

Both Ridgewell and Larsson are looking for around £20,000-a-week as they currently earn £12,000 and £8,000-a-week respectively.

Ferguson, 32, also feels he deserves improved terms after helping promoted City to ninth since joining from Rangers last summer for £1.2million.

All three players have been negotiating with Brum's chief executive Michael Dunford and vice-president Peter Pannu.

But new deals have to be ratified by president Yeung, who spends most of his time in the Far East.

The players have become frustrated by the process due to time differences in Hong Kong and different business cultures.

Now an imminent meeting is planned between Pannu and several players to reassure them and try to finalise pay rises as boss Alex McLeish wants them all to stay.

City have an option to automatically extend the contracts of Ridgewell and Larsson for at least 12 months if the club wish - but both men went new long-term deals.

Defender Franck Queudrue will be released by Birmingham in the summer after being sent on loan to Colchester United.