Alex McLeish signs new three-year deal at St Andrew’s

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has signed a new three-year contract to keep him at St Andrew’s until 2013.

McLeish, who joined the club in November 2007, guided the Blues to a ninth place finish in the Premier League last season – the club’s highest finish in 51 years.

Referring to the new deal, a statement on the club website read: “Club President Carson Yeung has rewarded that success with a new, improved deal for McLeish, after giving the green light for him to bring in Ben Foster, Nikola Zigic, Enric Valles, Matt Derbyshire, Alexander Hleb, Martin Jiranek and Jean Beausejour in the August transfer window.

“That followed the acquisitions of Craig Gardner and Michel in January.”

News of McLeish’s new comes as the club announced the departure of football consultant Sammy Yu after just nine months in the role.

“I think the time is right for me to step down,” Yu told the Birmingham Mail. “After four years being part of the whole deal, from the beginning, I have done my bit.

“It’s time to release myself and I wish Birmingham City the best for the future. To be part of the club’s history in a very important era is a highlight of my life.”