City move to keep McLeish

Birmingham City have opened contract talks with Alex McLeish in an attempt to fend off interest from other clubs in the talented Scot.

The 51-year-old has done a great job at St Andrews by leading the Blues into eighth place in the Premier League in his first full season in the English top-flight and an FA Cup quarter-final before their elimination to Portsmouth.
McLeish's position was initially rumoured to be under some threat following the takeover but new owner Carson Yeung and vice-chairman Peter Pannu quickly realised what they had got in the man who joined City in November 2007.
His current deal with the club is due to expire next season and Liverpool have recently been linked with a possible move for him if they decide to part company with Rafael Benitez.
McLeish said: "They gave me some initial figures. I will get my advisers to meet them and let them thrash it out."
The former Scotland boss originally took over City following Steve Bruce's departure to Wigan but was unable to save them from relegation in the 2007/2008 season.
However, a year later, he led the Blues to an immediate top-flight return with a final day win over Reading.