Pannu: McLeish is 'no Mourinho'

02 September 2010 07:25
irmingham vice-chairman Peter Pannu has told boss Alex McLeish that he is "no Mourinho" after contract talks between the two parties stalled.[LNB] The former Rangers and Scotland chief has been in talks with Blues officials over a new contract for some time, but as yet no deal has been agreed between all parties.[LNB]Birmingham were keen to reward McLeish with a new deal after guiding them to ninth spot last season on the back of winning promotion to the Premier League the year before.[LNB]The contract talks have been dragging on for a number of weeks now with Pannu claiming McLeish is asking for too much money.[LNB]McLeish is also thought to have fallen out with the Birmingham board following a jibe from Pannu that the Scot is "no Mourinho".[LNB]"I have been in talks with his representative and he was asking for a very large amount of money which I was not prepared to meet," Pannu told the Daily Star.[LNB]Pannu admits McLeish deserved a bonus for his performance last year, but he felt the Scot was still not the finished article. [LNB]"He has not been tried and tested yet," added Pannu. "The club was relegated, then promoted and last year we stayed up, so he has done well. [LNB]"But to suggest that he is in the top class like a Mourinho, well, he is no Mourinho yet. The ball is in his court."[LNB]McLeish, when asked about his contract situation, refused to discuss developments, saying: "I don't want to talk about it.[LNB]"We've signed three players and that's all I want to talk about."

Source: Team_Talk