Birmingham City-Fulham Preview

Feb 19, 2010 - 4:03 PM JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Alex McLeish has given Birmingham a boost on the eve of their trip to Fulham on Sunday by committing his future to St Andrew's.

McLeish this week held talks with representatives of Birmingham owner Carson Yeung about signing a new long-term contract.

The former Glasgow Rangers and Scotland manager said: "We had a chat, we didn't talk about specific figures, but things in general, and it was a very good meeting.

"I'm now due to see Carson and, absolutely, I plan on staying at Birmingham. I see my future here and I'm sure we can work something out.

"I believe we can go forward all together \2013 myself and my staff, the players and Carson and the board.

"I have enjoyed working for Carson since the takeover and there is a great atmosphere and ambience about the club, a real feel good factor.

"We are on the same wavelength and they have done everything they can so far to help me, I have no complaints.

"It's not just a case of backing me on the team and players, but the infrastructure as well, which they have recognised and provided assistance with.

"Unless you have everything right off the field, and unless you have everybody pulling the same way, it makes it that much harder sometimes."

Birmingham are on course to record their best ever Premier League finish and McLeish says he has already starting planning for how to build on their success next season.

He added: "We don't want to be a one-season wonder. There have been a couple of examples of that in the past.

"The plan is to build this team, this club, and sustain success. That is our vision, Carson's vision, and I think we are all looking forward positively to the future.

"Carson and the board tried to get me everything I asked for. We did try for players in January, as everyone knows, and it wasn't anybody's fault that we didn't get all those in we would have liked to. Not the board's fault, not my fault.

"One thing we all felt was that if we were to sign players, it had to be right in terms of taking the club forward.

"There were circumstances against us - the time factor as well - and we had to make sure that the money spent in fees and wages was not going to damage us.

"We've already got in mind players for the summer. We're down the road with one or two and have others under consideration."

Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy is backing Craven Cottage teammate Bobby Zamora for a place in England's World Cup squad.Zamora scored a stunning long range goal to lead Fulham to a 2-1 Europa League win over holders Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.

Former England star Murphy said: "You can see Bobby's confidence is sky-high, he has got better each month with his goalscoring, confidence and all-round game.

"If he carries on the way he is, he's got to have a shout at the England squad."