Carson Yeung not a problem for Alex McLeish

Nov 29 2007 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

THE spectre, albeit fading, of Carson Yeung casts no shadow over Alex McLeish.

Yeung's blocking of a new contract did for Steve Bruce. But Blues' board appointed McLeish without consulting Yeung, and the Hong Kong tycoon let them get on with it.

But what if, although it seems unlikely, he comes up with the money to buy out Blues?

Isn't McLeish taking a gamble? His take to the inquisitor at his press conference: "Maybe you are right - but you don't know how the talks went.

"I am satisfied with what I heard from the chairman, David Sullivan and Karren Brady and that we can go forward.

"I had to ask questions and I got good answers. There was nothing there that frightened me not to take the job. But it is a private matter and not something I would like to talk about publicly."

David Gold insisted McLeish had no clause - get out or compensation - in his contract linked to the takeover.

"He has joined the club on a three-and-a-half year contract. There's no clauses about who the board is, none of us get that."