McLeish needs more quality at Birmingham to face the likes of United

15 August 2009 01:00
When he embarked on a career in management, Alex McLeish must have relished the prospect of leading out a Premier League club at Old Trafford. Tomorrow he will discover the downside to that particular dream. As if an opening-day fixture for Birmingham City against champions Manchester United was not enough to leave him in a cold sweat, an injury crisis has darkened his mood further. And this week's news that the club are now in the middle of a takeoverbattle hints that his problems are only just beginning. Two years agothe arrival of Hong Kong-based businessman Carson Yeung precipitated aschism that ended with Steve Bruce leaving the club and unrest thatended in the Blues' demotion. This week Yeung has returned. And so havethe issues, because none of the present board are likely to sanctionspending that could jeopardise the sale.

Source: Daily_Mail