McLeish confirmed as Birmingham boss

Alex McLeish is the new man in charge at Birmingham City.

He resigned as Scotland manager hours after the Scottish Football Association rejected an official approach from the Blues and then accepted an offer to move to St Andrews.

McLeish said: "The Scotland campaign was over and I really thought long and hard about staying on. I knew of some interest in the Premier League and had a desire to get back to day-to-day football.

"I really enjoyed my time in the Scotland job, it was a good period for me which was not day to day but allowed me to rekindle my appetite for the club scene again.

"I've come to a club in great tradition in football with a fervent and fantastic fan base. I look forward to the challenge."

Meanwhile, Birmingham chairman David Gold warned the protracted takeover deal with Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung is looking increasingly unlikely.

Steve Bruce left Birmingham earlier this month because his future was unclear while the club was the subject of a takeover but now Bruce has left, the Blues have guaranteed McLeish's future.

Gold added: "It's bizarre, I've got to say. It's bizarre in the sense that the takeover board wouldn't allow you to enhance an existing contract, however it is quite in order, in the event that that contract ends, it is within the power of the board to offer a brand new contract to a brand new person.

"It is a bit unusual and it surprised us, that's why we got legal clearance about what we could do."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.