This time we have to stay up, say Birmingham City's Lee Carsley

May 5 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

LEE Carsley has told Birmingham City to look forward to Premier League football next season – and make sure it’s a regular occurrence.

The inspirational captain has urged the club to build for the future and bring to an end the recent yo-yoing between top flight and Championship.

Blues became the first club to achieve back-to-back relegations and promotions in the Premier League era, a record that is not really much to shout about in Carsley’s eyes.

“I think it’s important now that the club show the fans that we can be stable in the Premier League,” said the 35-year-old midfielder.

“It has been a yo-yo existence for the club. We have got to get the right kind of players in and that’s not always going to be the flair players.

“I’m sure that the fans are looking forward to the likes of Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal coming to St Andrew’s and that’s how it should be for the next 10 years.

“So we need to build the right kind of team and then every season add two or three quality players.”

Carsley joined on a Bosman free transfer from Everton in the summer, and immediately said that the Toffees were the sort of club Blues should emulate.

Carsley arrived bright-eyed and with plenty of ambition, but found himself taken aback by the discontent and pessimism swirling around St Andrew’s.