McLeish brushes off drama
11 Apr 2008 - 07:42:10
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish claims the club's off-field problems will not distract his players from preparing for Saturday's visit of Everton.
The Blues have hit the headlines this week after co-owner David Sullivan and managing director Karren Brady were arrested.
The pair were questioned on Wednesday evening by City of London Police in connection with allegations of false accounting and conspiracy to defraud.
The arrests followed last month's raid on the club as part of an ongoing investigation by the force's economic crime unit.
However despite the off-field drama, McLeish insists it is business as usual as he looks to plot their Premier League survival.
"My reaction is to carry on as normal and make sure that this football team gives a good performance on Saturday," he said.
"Obviously it was a little bit of a surprise, but it's not something that I'm going to concern myself with.
"I'm sure everything will be all right for Karren and David, but I've got to concentrate on football matters and totally not get involved or embroiled in any of these other administrative matters at all."
Meanwhile, McLeish has demanded an improvement after the Blues remained 17th in the table following last weekend's 2-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic.
"We let ourselves down last week and we have to bounce back again," he continued.
"We've done it many times, so the proof is there of that and I think the players owe themselves, if not the Birmingham fans and their families, a performance."