Source: Daily_Mail
Alex McLeish puts talks on hold to focus on Birmingham battle
First things first: Birmingham boss McLeish[LNB]Alex McLeish is to delay contract talks with several Birmingham players until the summer. [LNB]McLeish will make no decisions while the battle for Barclays Premier League survival remains in the balance. [LNB]The current deals of Sebastian Larsson, Lee Bowyer, Kevin Phillips, Stuart Parnaby, James McFadden, Martin Jiranek, Stephen Carr and Maik Taylor all expire this summer. [LNB]Blues can take up an option on the contracts of McFadden, Jiranek, Carr and Taylor if they so desire. [LNB]In addition, the future of loan players Obafemi Martins, David Bentley, Alexander Hleb and Matt Derbyshire has also to be sorted out. [LNB]But McLeish is adamant no talks will be held or decisions made until City's fate has been resolved. [LNB]He said: 'Everything is on hold in relation to contracts. Nothing like that will be getting addressed just now. [LNB] Decision time: Larsson is out of contract at the end of the season[LNB]'We have got to concentrate on climbing up the Premier League in the remaining seven matches.'[LNB] Central defender Scott Dann is unlikely to return from his hamstring problem before the end of the season. Dann is stepping up his rehabilitation work after suffering the setback in January. [LNB]But McLeish said: 'I don't think Scott will be back this season. I doubt it. We wouldn't risk any player at this stage.'[LNB] Blackburn 1 Birmingham 1: It's Hoilett to the rescue for Kean's RoversMatch Zone: All the stats, facts and fallout from Saturday's actionWatch all the Premier League goals every week on our brilliant video playerAll the latest Birmingham news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: David Bentley, Stuart Parnaby, Lee Bowyer, Matt Derbyshire, Scott Dann, Kevin Phillips, Sebastian Larsson, Alex McLeish, James McFadden, Maik Taylor, Obafemi Martins Places: Birmingham
