More value for money hope for Birmingham City's David Sullivan
May 13 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
“The bottom line is that we are after better value. We have got to use our money very effectively this time.
“Middlesbrough and Sunderland, they look as if they could be relegated and if they are, it won’t be because of a lack of spending. Newcastle United have spent fortunes and they might just crawl out of trouble.
“You have to make sure that you use what you have got wisely.
“Saying all that, I am looking forward to the season with excitement and optimism. More so than last time.
“We all know it’s tough for any promoted team. But with what the manager and board hope to deliver and with the supporters behind us, I’m confident we can survive and then move onto better things subsequently.”
McLeish revealed last week that he has to work within stringent transfer window parameters and Sullivan would not put a figure on the ‘limited resources’.
However, Sullivan pledged: “If someone special does come up, who we all believe is special, then we will juggle our finances to find the money.
“Then you consider Tottenham. They spent £14million each on three players in January: Wilson Palacios, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe. Are they ‘special’? They’re really good Premier League pros, but ‘special’? That’s what we’re up against.”
Immediately after the promotion-clinching victory at Reading, Sullivan said he felt Blues needed five new players for the top flight. McLeish reckoned eight to 10.
“A lot depends on who we get rid of to lighten the load,” said Sullivan.
“We will try the best we can for new players. We will decide what we need and who we need, and then they will come in.
“How many? Probably five to eight. Possibly more. We need two centre-halves, without a shadow of doubt.
“Losing Liam Ridgewell was a big blow. He had a good season, and he was the one defender who didn’t get injured – then he broke his leg.
“Then also a midfielder, a striker, maybe another goalkeeper.
“Stephen Carr, we’ve signed off our end of the contract, we are negotiating with Lee Bowyer. We shall see how other things pan out.”
