Martin O'Connor: Birmingham City board should back McLeish long-term

Jun 3 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

EX-Birmingham City skipper Martin O’Connor believes Alex McLeish will receive the backing to execute his long-term plan for Premier League success.

Big Eck is scouring the worldwide transfer market in a bid to bolster his squad ahead of next season’s assault on the top flight.

And the initial £6.2million that is believed to have been tabled for Ecuador striker Christian Benitez, a deal which is yet to reach a conclusion, shows the ambition is there from all levels.

Following promotion, McLeish described the successful campaign as an example of ‘car-crash management’ before expressing his desire to look beyond the short term at St Andrew’s.

Former Bluenose favourite O’Connor, who played over 200 times for the club between 1996 and 2002, is confident McLeish will be given the same level of panic-free support from the board that his predecessors received.

Unlike many club owners, the Blues board have previously shown they’re not the type to dish out P45s willy-nilly.

And Walsall No.2 O’Connor insists McLeish can only blossom under that security.